Shake-up doesn’t do justice to what is taking place in the industry at the moment, I’m sure most readers would agree. At company, board and management levels, in every sector of the supply chain, fundamental changes are being made as the trade repositions itself like never before.

Tesco reduces its grape supplier base to five; Compass talks of increased sales but ominously lower margins; leading firms in the UK potato industry undergo major upheaval for varying reasons; and rumours of bankruptcies fill the air, if not yet the column inches.

It is a huge pity that all of this is happening at a time when the trade should be enjoying the early benefits of government funding for promotional work through the 5-a-day campaign and consumption building through the fruit for schools scheme.

While the consumer undoubtedly wants to eat more fruit and vegetables the industry should be making hay, shouldn’t it? But not only are many companies not making hay, they are struggling for survival.

It has been accepted for some time that the industry as it changes will be oversupplied with suppliers. Mergers and acquisitions take care of part of that problem and elements of the trade that are either not quite up to scratch or ready to call it a day will eventually disappear.

That much we expected. But that is not precisely what is taking place. The way the major customers have now organised their supply networks has taken all room for manoeuvre out of the game. Some companies that are having to significantly lower their horizons are in fact experienced and highly capable organisations. But they have been reduced to a lethal game of retail roulette.

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