WM representatives visiting the retail trade hall in Frankfurt

11th Members' meeting in Frankfurt
GFI German Wholesale Markets: A huge boost to effective marketing for the community

The 11th annual general meeting of the German National Markets Association ( GFI ) took place from 7-8 November 2006 in Frankfurt . The members finalised several new marketing activities.

Marketing activities in 2006

GFI will be present at Fruit Logistica 2007 with a new stand concept. The 400m² GFI joint stand will represent all 18 wholesale markets in Germany since the recent inclusion of the wholesale markets of Saarbrücken, Gelsenkirchen, Köln, Rostock und Leipzig.

Model of new GFI fair stand

On the occasion of Fruit Logistica, GFI will arrange in the evening of 9 February in the øRotes RathausÓ (city hall) a panel discussion regarding øprice dumpingÓ. Well known representatives from agriculture, Wholesale trade, retail trade, consumer, politics and organisations will discuss the theme controversially.

Campaign motif for the panel discussion

Over the course of the next year, GFI will extend its marketing partnerships via new co-operation with international growers. In 2006 GFI organized over 50 kiwi promotions for Zespri in independent shops and street markets. Furthermore the GFI network of independent shops and street markets becomes a more favoured channel for product samplings. In the last year GFI disseminated 450,000 samples of the brands øBonaqa-Fruitsø øMaggi-fixÓ via 250 retailers on 200 street markets and independent stores.

After six years of success, the GFI website will be redesigned with a more news orientated structure. The re-launch is expected some time in 2007.

Uwe Kluge re-elected in the Board

The general meeting re-elected Uwe Kluge , managing director of Bremen Wholesale market in the Board. He has been Chairman of the Board for the past year.

The next GFI general meeting will take place in Munich in October 2007.

The ønew and oldÓ Board: Uwe Kluge - Chairman, Peter Joppa, Andreas Foidl

GFI - communication platform and pan-regional spokesman for Germany's fresh produce centres

GFI was founded in 2000 and is the association of wholesale markets in Germany . Its purpose is to use advertising, PR and information events to show consumers that wholesale markets are important because they provide wholesalers and retailers with a wide variety of top quality fresh food.

What wholesale markets achieve

an institution for the exchange of information about trade, marketing and hygiene issues
a public platform in the shape of a joint stand at the Fruit Logistica
political lobbying activities, including work with chambers and associations
a website, www.grossmaerkte.org, with a database of information

Network for traders and marketing partners

GFI German Wholesale Markets
is the central point of contact for national and international growers who would like to undertake marketing activities at appropriate, independent food stores;
it offers these marketing partners individual concepts so they can communicate their brand to the quality-conscious consumer and arrange product tasting events.