DISTRIBUTION IN THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

After the production phase, foods need to be cleaned, pass the various quality processes, packaging, storage and transport to the destination markets. It is therefore necessary to have the necessary infrastructure in both food businesses and the rest of the production chain, technical means of handling, storage and transport, with appropriate measures to prevent deterioration and techniques food contamination.

Efficient marketing infrastructure, whether for retail, wholesale and warehouses, are essential to ensure a profitable marketing, minimize losses, reduce health risks and ensure quality and compliance of increasingly demanding markets, which undergo a continuous process of improvement as shops detect the needs of consumers, moving them to the shelves of large and small commercial premises.

In this regard, it is important to reiterate the prominent role that shops and retail markets nearby, as distributors of food products in urban and rural areas. A coherent policy should ensure that food distribution function, facilitating competition from large chains. While in Spain, about 80% of food purchases are made through so-called "dynamic channels", the distribution in supermarkets, only 2.7% in the traditional store and 11.2% specialty stores. Great Food Distribution currently accounts for 60% of the value of monetary benefit that generates entire food chain.

Moreover, the phenomenon of concentration of purchases directly with the producer by large distributors, is articulating a new pattern of food consumption in retail trade is forced to answer a much more specialized demand and high value-added . New Technologies of Information and Communication become this way in the right tools to facilitate competition and an adaptation of the market in which, obviously with tensions, small and large distributors have no place.

This direct access to the supply chain through central purchasing on-line and even the producers themselves by the final consumer, is completely revolutionizing the industry, enabling the emergence of new companies that allow even unpublished work under the direct demand consumer groups. Example of this is the rise of consumer cooperatives, which directly affect the classical distribution channels, implementing new marketing and sales processes in enterprises and agricultural and livestock cooperatives.

New national legislation on food policy, are favoring the emergence of structural measures that encourage greater participation of producers and consumers in the food chain. The implementation of control measures and monitoring are already avoiding abuse occasional situations that may occur by the large purchasing as we have seen who dominate marketing channels.

The government must therefore adapt to this joint demand for producers and consumers, fully ensuring full transparency for potential situations of commercial dumping by creating an effective system of traceability prices.

The commitment to client and therefore producers must direct the strategy of the operators of distribution, because although it is the price which usually marks the sectorial evolution, the consumer also demands proximity, service and responsibility to the market. Innovation in retail formats and the use of ICTs, increased levels of quality and service, and strategic agility always demand oriented supply providing a distinctive and high value added, are thus key factors that will the course of the distribution in the food chain.

+info:

• Food distribution (MAGRAMA): http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/alimentacion/temas/consumo-y-comercializacion-y-distribucion-alimentaria/distribucion-agroalimentaria/ 
•  Observatory of Food Consumption and Distribution: http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/alimentacion/temas/consumo-y-comercializacion-y-distribucion-alimentaria/observatorio-de-consumo-y-la-distribucion-alimentaria/
•  Challenges of food distribution: http://www.mercasa.es/files/multimedios/pag_005-023_retos-sainz.pdf
• ASEDAS, Spanish Association of Distributors and Supermarkets: http://www.asedas.chil.org/ 
• FIAB Spanish Federation of Industries Food and Beverage: http://www.fiab.es 
• AEDABE,  Spanish Directors Association of Food and Beverage: https://www.facebook.com/AEDABE 
• ACES, Spanish Association Supermarket Chains: http://www.asociacionsupermercados.com/ 
•  ANGED, National Association of Large Distribution Companies: http://www.anged.es/ 
• Industry Links: https://www.interempresas.net/Distribucion-Hortofruticola/Empresas/Entidades-y-asociaciones-sectoriales.html