November 17 2006, 17:01

МЕТRO AG Group will speak on requirements to fresh produce supplies to retail chains

Marek Mazec, the International Quality Controller of МЕТRO AG Group companies in Eastern Europe countries, has confirmed his participation in the third international conference "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2006. Open Market" to be held on December 5th-6th 2006 in Kyiv. The group of companies owns eleven wholesale trade centers METRO Cash & Carry in Ukraine. Mr. Mazec will report on "What the retail trade representatives expect from the produce suppliers. EU countries' experience" in the framework of the international trade forum of the conference.

Ukraine stands among four the most attractive countries as for retail trade investment, so that many world leading retailers pay attention to the country. To the opinion of the Marketing Specialists of the Agricultural Marketing Project, most leading international retail chains are likely to enter Ukrainian market in the coming years.

However, it is not a secret that fruits and vegetables are one of the most problematic assortment items for the supermarket and hypermarket chains in Ukraine. There is a rather large share of import produce grown and packed in line with the international standards in Russian retail trade. Unlike Russia, Ukraine makes the international chains adapt to the local quality standards. The retail chains try to gradually improve standards up to the international level, but this fact significantly deteriorates the relations of the producers and wholesalers with the supermarkets.

In his presentation Mr. Mazec will tell how the requirements to produce supply quality and delivery terms can be changed, what Ukrainian suppliers of fresh produce should expect in the coming years. No doubt, this presentation will be of interest to all wholesalers and importers who supply produce to supermarket chains, and also to greenhouse complexes and large producers of vegetables, fruits and berries. Please note that you should register for participation in the conference. Only seven days are left till the end of the registration of the conference participants!

AMP Information. METRO Cash & Carry chain consists of more than 540 stores in 28 world countries. The turnover amount was worth to the sum of EUR 28.1 billion in 2005. METRO Group is the third largest trade concern in the world, its annual turnover is EUR 55.7 billion. METRO Group includes Makro Cash & Carry, Real hypermarkets, Extra, Media Markt and Saturn supermarkets, and also Galeria Kaufhof stores.