Frugi Venta Annual Report 2009
to countries including Great Britain in order to view a number of shops. Erik Postuma was among the wholesalers who went on the trip. "During the talks we held with each other we came up with the idea of placing a shop format on the market. It is a good thing that Frugi Venta has taken the initiative to bring domestic wholesalers together and gauge their interest. I'm completely sold on the idea, but I also realise that we as wholesalers are sometimes ourselves the biggest barrier. Looking at the market, it's obvious that things will get difficult. But that doesn't mean we should give up. I hope that we'll get a result and produce something worthwhile. Mutual competition is a good thing, it keeps us on our toes. As long as there's a level playing field there's nothing to complain about."
Property developers Despite all the initiatives for shop formats in recent years, the number of specialist businesses has been declining for years. Do they have any chance of success now? "It is certainly not the idea to compete with other formats. But it is important to achieve national cover", says Erik Postuma. He also attaches a lot of importance to placing something on the market that enables young entrepreneurs to start, that provides them with support. He also regards it as a task for a collective to negotiate with property developers. "As things stand, the supermarkets are first in line when new shop space is available. But we as the vegetable trade will also have to join the negotiations in the future. But that doesn't mean that Erik Postuma would like to see a meeting culture brought into being. He realises that someone will have to take a lead. "Who that will be and how the new shop format will be shaped is something we will look into and expect to implement in 2010 with a small group of five wholesalers and professional advisors." But Erik Postuma does not yet have any great commercial expectations for 2010. "Consumer spending remains completely different from the situation two years ago. Most consumers are spending less. Fortunately, there remains a group with more disposable income that is willing to spend it."
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