Wholesale and retail markets tackle market modernisation challenge at the WUWM Congress next week

MEDIA RELEASE

18 October 2017

Market modernisation will be the key theme at next week’s World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Congress in Melbourne and Sydney from 23 to 27 October.

Chair of Borough Market Trustees Donald Hyslop said he was looking forward to sharing the Borough Market’s experiences of market change with colleagues from around the world.

“There has been a market here for 1000 years but very recently we’ve gone through a whole lot of changes – some good and some bad,” he said.

Host markets the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA), Queen Victoria Market (QVM) and Sydney Markets Limited (SML), have secured a strong line-up of local and international speakers and panellists to share what the opportunities are likely to be for markets.

MMA Chief Executive Mark Maskiell said the program would focus on the changing retail landscape, infrastructure renewal or redevelopment, the digital impact on markets, sustainability challenges and solutions, as well as leadership through rapidly changing times.

“Some of the world’s largest wholesale and retail markets are at a crossroad – the way things were done in the past is unlikely to be the way of doing things in the future and management needs to be at the forefront of the latest emerging trends,” he said.

“The opportunity for local and international delegates to come together next week and discuss the challenges and triumphs with colleagues is really second to none.”

Dutch Leading Concept Developer and VGA Owner Rene Van Gool will discuss the disruptive initiatives in the food chain from farm to fork, while Seattle’s Pike Market Asset Director John Turnbull will share their strategy on historic preservation, locally owned small businesses, an economically diverse residential population and public stewardship.

Other speakers include University of Melbourne Professor of Business and Economics Colin McLeod, LaManna Premier Group Chief Executive Anthony DiPietro, Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College in London Dr David Hughes and Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal Director Joanne Wandel.

The WUWM Congress is held every two years, attracting around 300 international and local delegates from the fresh produce industry. It’s the first time in almost three decades Australia will host the event.

The congress will include technical visits to see the inner workings of the Melbourne Market and Queen Victoria Market. Delegates are also able to spend the last day of the congress exploring Sydney’s Flemington (wholesale) and Paddy’s Market (retail), thus being immersed in the Australian market life.

For more information including the full congress program and speaker profiles visit www.wuwmcongress.org

Media Contact

Hannah Jonkers

Communications Advisor

Melbourne Market Authority

E: hannah.jonkers@melbournemarket.com.au

P: 03 9258 6188