November 21 2006, 13:13

Polish supermarkets reject the usage of refrigerators for vegetable sales

The representatives of Ukrainian supermarkets pointed out an interesting trend of vegetable sales in Polish supermarket chains during their recent visit to Poland on purpose to study the peculiarities of the produce retail trade. The study tour participants pointed out that vegetable displays were not cooled in any of the stores of Carrefour, Geant, Auchan, Biedronka, Real and Halawola supermarket chains. But, one year ago there were refrigerators with produce commodities in some of these chains. Despite of the absent refrigerators, the supermarket produce fully corresponds to the requirements as for their appearance and freshness.

You can also seldom meet produce commodities sold in refrigerators in Ukrainian supermarkets. However, most Ukrainian chains are only planning to install refrigerating displays. Why do Polish supermarkets reduce the number of refrigerating displays for the produce commodities, and Ukrainian supermarkets increase this number? The specialists think that the main reason for it is a significantly better developed logistics used for the produce supply to Polish supermarkets. The logistics system Just In Time let the supermarkets be supplied with the produce with exact volumes of shipments as frequently as they need to. The system provides the possibility to avoid a long period of produce location directly on supermarket shelves.

The study tour to Poland was organized for the representatives of Ukrainian supermarkets under support of the Agricultural Marketing Project. You can speak to the study tour participants during the third international conference "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2006. Open Market". The representatives of Polish companies - produce traders - will share their experience at the same event.