I have been given the opportunity through this column to chronicle the changes that are taking place in the French wholesale sector.

The next joint congress of the French fresh produce wholesalers and exporters union, which will take place in Perpignan next week, will almost certainly provide a yardstick to measure the actions and direction the French industry wants to take over the forthcoming months.

Let’s be brutally honest. The major interest of most people attending this meeting will not lie in the sessions that have been organised for them. Some might even say that what is not on the agenda could be more important.

Although I do not wish to undermine the importance of this kind of experience: strategic alliances are often formed during these gatherings, which is in fact the very essence of a union’s existence.

The Perpignan congress will host the first official presentation of the industry’s traceability system TraceFel. In France the pressure on who is going to be in charge of this for the food chain is building as the January 2005 deadline approaches.

Another interesting talking point will be the new niche market of fruit and vegetable vending machines. Trials at some colleges have met with significant approval from students - what does the industry think of that? Watch this space.