Market West

About the Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries in WA Inc.

The Chamber provides its Members and other Perth Markets industry based tenants with a number of services. In 2016 the Chamber led a successful fresh produce industry consortium bid to purchase the 51ha Perth Markets site from the State Government as part of their asset sales program. The security and longevity of the central market process, our Members and the other key stakeholders of the fresh produce industry was the key motivator for mounting and eventually winning the bid.

PROMOTION OF THE INDUSTRY BY MEMBERS

Chamber Members are fresh produce wholesalers who provide retailers and the food service industry with quality produce and a high degree of professional service. Their role in the industry is vital to the wider WA horticultural industry. They promote and sponsor products through direct media and promotional advertising and by making voluntary contributions to other associations.

INDUSTRY REPRESENTATION

This is a key responsibility requiring broad engagement with the fresh produce industry. The Chamber has very strong liaison channels with the Perth Markets Group Limited as the market owner and other industry and government bodies.

Most recently Market West has played a pivotal role in association with Fresh Markets Australia in the transition to the new Horticulture Code of Conduct, working closely with its Members to ensure compliance and assisting with implementation of their new contracts (Horticulture Produce Agreements) with the vast number of growers. The Chamber provides ongoing support, advice and dispute resolution where applicable. In 2021, the Chamber worked closely with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Members and the wider industry in managing a Queensland Fruit Fly (QFly) detection that could have had a significant detrimental affect on the central market process. The ongoing mitigation and management of this detection allowed the restrictions placed on the markets to be lifted one month early.

CENTRALISED CREDIT SERVICE

The FPAA Credit Service (owned by the Chamber) has been operational since 1997 and is one of the most significant innovations developed by the Chamber for Members which allows the efficient flow of funds through the supply chain. The value of funds processed through the service is significant and includes the vast majority of buyers visiting the market. The major benefits provided are; the buyer makes one weekly payment on a consolidated statement to the credit service, a regular cash flow to the wholesaler which ensures that growers are paid in a timely manner, buyer credit control and the reduction of bad debts to insignificant levels in recent years. This cost effective service has contributed towards the 24 participating members remaining viable within a highly competitive industry.

RETAILER OF THE YEAR

The Retailer of the Year program commenced in 2003 and has developed into a prestigious award for the retail sector. The program has been designed by the Chamber to recognise and reward retailers who utilise the central market process at the Perth Markets. The program promotes WA fresh produce to the retail consumers while recognising the retailers who provide excellence in retail customer experience. Nominees are visited by secret shoppers throughout the process who assess the retailers using set criteria developed from an independent survey conducted by Curtin University.

The winners are presented with their awards at the annual Perth Markets Ball which is another Chamber initiative to bring industry participants together. The Chamber has recently extended the award program to include retail support, which provides the retailer with feedback on their assessment and point of sale merchandise. This will assist them to improve their presentation, customer service, satisfaction and turnover.

A BETTER CHOICE – INDEPENDENT RETAIL SUPPORT PROGRAM

‘A Better Choice’ is the first national initiative designed to educate consumers about the quality, service and freshness of produce at their local fruit and vegetable shop. The program supports more than 500 fruit and veg business owners across Australia who supply over half of the fresh produce sold each year.

‘A Better Choice’ presents an opportunity for consumers to come together to help create a positive future for business owners, produce wholesalers and local growers who supply them. ‘A Better Choice‘ has surveyed thousands of Australian consumers and identified what matters most to them when it comes to purchasing fresh, quality fruit and vegetables. When you shop local, you’re getting better quality, freshness and range of produce, that you know has been hand-picked by the independent retail store.

In WA this program is managed by Market West providing the staff and resources with financial support from Market West on behalf of its Members and Perth Markets Group Limited.

MOBILE TELEPHONE PLAN

The Chamber now participates in a national phone and data plan thorough the national chamber, Fresh Markets Australia, that provides users with cost efficiencies for mobile telephone usage. The plan provides highly competitive rates and support. It is offered to buyers, growers and any other industry entities who meet the credit review criteria. Nationally, the plan has in excess of 3,300 service connections and the plans are continually reviewed to provide cost effective options to our customers.

FLOOR SCRUBBING SERVICE

The Chamber provides a cost effective floor scrubbing service for its members. This ensures that the trading floors are always kept clean and members comply with the requirements of their Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs.

LPG REFUELLING FACILITY

The gas refuelling facility is located onsite at the Perth Markets and has been operational since October 2000. It provides market tenants with convenient access to market priced LPG, without the need for delivery and rental of bottles to operate the more than 300 forklifts on site.

MARKET PRICE REPORTING

The Chamber manages an electronic price reporting service for the industry. Members, who are the main handlers of particular produce lines, report the pricing 3 times per week. These prices are then published on the Chamber’s website. Access to the price reports is free but users must register and log on to obtain the reports.

MARKET PRICE AND STATISTICS REPORTING

The Chamber manages an electronic price reporting and volume statistics service for the industry. Members, who are the main handlers of particular produce lines, report the pricing in ‘real time’. These prices are then published on the market website and provide a valuable tool to growers, wholesalers, industry associations and the wider fresh produce industry. Access to the price reports is free after users register and log on to view the data.

The WA Chamber has come a long way from its inception in 1946 and will continue to promote the central market system for the benefit of all fresh produce industry stakeholders.