Salubridad alimentaria en la cadena de oferta de frutas y hortalizas frescas.Análisis de las importaciones de la UE a través del comercio mayorista

  1. Hernández Rubio, Jesús
Supervised by:
  1. Emilio Galdeano Gómez Director
  2. Juan Carlos Pérez Mesa Co-director

Defence university: Universidad de Almería

Fecha de defensa: 26 February 2021

Committee:
  1. José Antonio Salinas Fernández Chair
  2. Raquel Sánchez Fernández Secretary
  3. Marta Fernández Olmos Committee member

Type: Thesis

Teseo: 647870 DIALNET lock_openriUAL editor

Abstract

In Europe, in recent decades, food safety policies have been assumed by Public Administrations, as well as by private initiatives seeking a differentiating market element. These initiatives have been developed mainly by large retailers, via quality protocols. Its content and application have been extensively studied and, with it, its effects within the distribution channel where these supermarket chains are located as the main actor, usually referred to as the “short” channel. However, at the same time, within the supply chains for fresh fruit and vegetables, there is another channel, where the wholesalers and central markets are located, called “long” or “traditional” channel. Given the scant research carried out on the food safety of fresh fruits and vegetables along this long channel, this thesis aims to fill part of this gap, especially since these wholesalers are an important entry point for imports to the European Union (EU) of this type of product. For this purpose, it starts from the broader perspective through the analysis of international supply chains and the strategies of their different actors in relation to food safety and quality, particularly in fruits and vegetables. Factors such as the regulatory framework, the maintenance of consumer confidence, the development and evaluation of food safety controls, the characteristics of small retailers, the export activity of third countries, or the investment costs and incentives to adopt agri-food protocols, are taken into account, as well as their implications in determining health risks and in the organizational structures of the supply chain. Subsequently, the operation and structure of the Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable supply channel is described. It is classified according to the functions carried out by the channel actors in a generic way, to food safety and quality, as well as to logistics and characteristics of the export process. It appears that characteristics of the links that were established up to now along the channel have been altered towards the search for greater commitments from the retailers to the producers. These commitments have been effectively instrumentalized through the adoption of quality protocols and standards beyond the legislation, fundamentally developed and required by retailers. Furthermore, protocols have indeed become technical and commercial entry barriers for products from third countries. Based on the context described above, in the empirical part of this thesis, special attention is paid to the factors that influence the degree of food safety, measured through the level of implementation of quality certifications. It is analyzed how the level of certification of the wholesaler-importer is influenced by the degree of demand of the clients, its type of supplier and its type of client. Simultaneously, it has been studied how it affects this supplier-wholesaler-customer relationship, the fact that the main customer is large distribution. Similarly, it is intended to clarify some important aspects related to importing wholesalers. To achieve these objectives, a face-to-face survey has been carried out with fruit and vegetable wholesalers in the main central markets of France and Spain, as well as in the southeast of Spain as the most important European region in the commercialization of this type of products. Based on the data obtained, a series of study hypotheses on the determinants of certification level have been articulated. The main results indicate that wholesalers do not act on their own initiative to implement quality protocols. In the same way, having a large distribution as a client has a positive influence on the wholesaler´ level of certification. In addition, it has been found that the customer of wholesalers-importers has the same level of sanitary requirements for European or imported productions. Finally, it is found that in older wholesale companies there is a lower level of certification. In general, this work provides empirical evidence to the scarce literature on food safety in the channel where fresh fruit and vegetable wholesalers take action, identifying how and why they establish their respective strategies. Additionally, the study carried out, can serve as a reference for future researchs. For example, it would be interesting to make a comparison with wholesalers located in other countries. Likewise, the factors that may have an influence on the food safety of intermediaries could be expanded, deepening the differences between the different types of supply channel and incorporating the perception of consumers on this issue. Finally, due to the fact that they are the last link in long supply channel, it would be relevant to extend the scope of study to retailers in street markets and neighborhood stores to verify how, and at what level, they continue to maintain the safety of the products they buy from importers-wholesalers.