Just Accepted Manuscripts
Research Articles

The role of agrifood wholesale markets in urban fruit and vegetable distribution: the case of Parma, Italy

PDF
  • Teresa Tugliani,
  • Marianna Guareschi,
  • Filippo Arfini
Teresa Tugliani
Department of Economics and Management, University of Parma, Italy
Marianna Guareschi
Department of Economics and Management, University of Parma, Italy
Filippo Arfini
Department of Economics and Management, University of Parma, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-16912

Published 2026-09-10

Keywords

  • urban food policies,
  • local development,
  • Traditional food retailers,
  • supply chain governance,
  • Italy

How to Cite

Tugliani, T., Guareschi, M., & Arfini, F. (2026). The role of agrifood wholesale markets in urban fruit and vegetable distribution: the case of Parma, Italy. Italian Review of Agricultural Economics. https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-16912

Copyright (c) 2026 Teresa Tugliani, Marianna Guareschi, Filippo Arfini

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Funding data

Abstract

Agrifood wholesale markets are facing an evolution and innovation phase triggered by competition with the large-scale retail distribution chain. However, their presence in the Italian fruit and vegetable supply chain is important to keep traditional and ambulant retailers alive and may have a role in urban food planning. This study investigates the potential contribution of agrifood wholesale markets in fruit and vegetable distribution and provides policy implications. It involves an in-depth qualitative analysis of Parma as a case study, examining its role in municipal and provincial procurement from 2017 to 2023, and the perspective of wholesalers in terms of products, sales choices, and strategies to supply the local area through semi-structured interviews and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. Based on the results, the agrifood wholesale market is strongly embedded in the local territory, supporting the small-scale traditional retail ecosystem, as well as the limitations and challenges faced. The main area of improvement concerns the need for a comprehensive supra-municipal strategy that transforms wholesale markets into a policy instrument to benefit local society.

PDF

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

  1. Ahmed N., Li C., Khan A., Qalati S.A., Naz S., Rana, F. (2021). Purchase intention toward organic food among young consumers using theory of planned behavior: Role of environmental concerns and environmental awareness. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64(5): 796-822. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2020.1785404.
  2. Ashton J., Grey P., Barnard K. (1986). Healthy cities—WHO’s new public health initiative. Health Promotion International, 1(3): 319-324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/1.3.319.
  3. Bogomolova S., Lesar L., Baum N., Jardine B., Lockshin L., Loch A., Buckley J. (2026). Exploring the intensity of power asymmetry in food supply systems: an application of systems thinking. Industrial Marketing Management, 133: 53-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2026.01.002.
  4. Bonfrer A., Chintagunta P., Dhar S. (2022). Retail store formats, competition and shopper behavior: A systematic review. Journal of Retailing, 98(1): 71-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2022.02.006.
  5. Cabannes Y., Marocchino C. (eds) (2018). Integrating Food into Urban Planning. UCL Press, London.
  6. Cadilhon J.J., Fearne A.P., Hughes D.R., Moustier P. (2003). Wholesale markets and food distribution in Europe: New strategies for old functions. Department of Agricultural Sciences, Imperial College London (Wye Campus), 34 [Working paper].
  7. CAL (2024). Report di sostenibilità 2023: ortofrutta bene condiviso, Centro Agroalimentare di Parma, Parma.
  8. Coca-Stefaniak A., Hallsworth A.G., Parker C., Bainbridge S., Yuste R. (2005). Decline in the British small shop independent retail sector: exploring European parallels. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 12(5): 357-371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2004.11.007.
  9. Confesercenti (2024). Commercio e servizi: Le oasi nei centri urbani, Confesercenti Nazionale, Rome.
  10. CoopItalia, Nomisma. (2024). Rapporto Coop 2024 – Consumi e stili di vita degli italiani di oggi e di domani. Italiani.coop, Rome.
  11. CREA (2025). Annuario dell’agricoltura italiana 2024, Volume LXXVIII. Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Rome.
  12. Dekimpe M. G., Gijsbrechts E., Gielens K. (2023). Proximity-store introductions: A new route to big-box retailer success? Journal of Retailing, 99(4): 621-633. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2023.11.006.
  13. Delage M., Baudet-Michel S., Fol S., Buhnik S., Commenges H., Vallée J. (2020). Retail decline in France’s small and medium-sized cities over four decades. Evidences from a multi-level analysis. Cities, 104, 102790. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102790.
  14. Del Bravo F. (2021). L’ortofrutta e la catena del valore. In Il valore nell’ortofrutta, dalla filiera al sistema (online event, CIA – ISMEA) [Presentation slides available in: https://static.tecnichenuove.it/rivistafrutticoltura/2021/04/Cia_valore_filiera_ortofrutticola.pdf].
  15. Dergan T., Ivanovska A., Kocjančič T., Iannetta P.P., Debeljak M. (2022). ‘Multi-SWOT’ multi-stakeholder-based sustainability assessment methodology: Applied to improve Slovenian legume-based agri-food Chains. Sustainability, 14(22), 15374. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215374.
  16. Dobson P.W., Waterson M., Davies S.W. (2003). The patterns and implications of increasing concentration in European food retailing. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 54(1): 111-125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-9552.2003.tb00053.x.
  17. Eataly (2025). FICO Eataly World: From Field to Fork.
  18. Emilia-Romagna Mercati. (2025). Mission & Vision, Emilia-Romagna Mercati – Rete di Imprese, Bologna.
  19. Emilia-Romagna Regional Trade Observatory, ART-ER (2017-2023). Il commercio su aree pubbliche in Emilia-Romagna, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
  20. Emilia-Romagna Regional Trade Observatory, ART-ER (2018-2024). Il commercio in sede fissa in Emilia-Romagna, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
  21. Emilia-Romagna Regional Trade Observatory, ART-ER (2019-2024). I trend della distribuzione in regione Emilia-Romagna, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
  22. Enthoven L., Van den Broeck G. (2021). Local food systems: Reviewing two decades of research. Agricultural Systems, 193, 103226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103226.
  23. EuroCommerce, McKinsey&Company. (2025). The State of Grocery Retail 2025: Europe, EuroCommerce, Brussels.
  24. FAO. (2021). FAO/WHO International Workshop on Fruits and Vegetables in preparation for the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
  25. Fernandes J.R., Chamusca P. (2014). Urban policies, planning and retail resilience. Cities, 36: 170-177. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2012.11.006.
  26. Fiore M., Stašys R., Pellegrini G. (2018). Agri-food supply chain optimization through the SWOT analysis. Vadybos mokslas ir studijos – kaimo verslų ir jų infrastruktūros plėtrai: mokslo žurnalas, 40(1): 28-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15544/mts.2018.03.
  27. Fondazione Innovazione Urbana (2014). FICO Eataly World, Fondazione Innovazione Urbana, Piazza Maggiore.
  28. INDIS. (2004). I mercati agroalimentari all'ingrosso: il quadro attuale e le prospettive future. Maggioli Editore, Santarcangelo di Romagna.
  29. ISMEA, Italmercati (2024). I Mercati all'Ingrosso nella Filiera Agroalimentare: Un’indagine sulla rete Italmercati, Programma Rete Rurale Nazionale 2014-22, Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare, Rome.
  30. ISMEA, Italmercati, CENSIS (2025). Rigenerare il fresco: I mercati all’ingrosso tra innovazione e sfida dei consumi, Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare, Rome.
  31. ISTAT (eds) (2017-2024). Commercio al dettaglio, Istituto Nazionale di Statistica, Rome.
  32. ISTAT (2025). Rapporto annuale 2025. La situazione del Paese, Istituto Nazionale di Statistica, Rome.
  33. Kangas J., Kurttila M., Kajanus M., Kangas A. (2003). Evaluating the management strategies of a forestland estate – The SOS approach. Journal of Environmental Management, 69(4): 349-358. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2003.09.010.
  34. Liliia M., Ekaterina V., Olga K. (2023). Changing the designs of business models of wholesale food markets in the context of the transformation of the state regulatory system. TEM Journal 12(2): 1069-1081. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM122-53.
  35. Lizzi R. (2022). Urban food policies against waste and supporting food donations. Actors, mechanisms and facilitating factors of collaborative governance in the Italian case. Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, 17(3): 319-348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1483/105511.
  36. Madureira T., Nunes F., Mata F., Vaz-Velho M. (2024). A SWOT analysis of organizations in the agri-food chain sector from the Northern region of Portugal using the PESTEL and MEETHS frameworks. Agriculture, 14(9), 1554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091554.
  37. Maggioni, A. (2016). La regione logistica milanese, Associazione Economia e Sostenibilità, Milan.
  38. MASAF - Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali. (2022). Decreto 5 agosto 2022: Disposizioni necessarie all’attuazione della misura PNRR “Sviluppo logistica per i settori agroalimentare, pesca e acquacoltura, silvicoltura, floricoltura e vivaismo, tramite miglioramento della capacità logistica dei mercati agroalimentari all’ingrosso”. Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, Serie Generale, 252, 27 ottobre 2022.
  39. Mattas K., Tsakiridou E., Karelakis C., Lazaridou D., Gorton M., Filipović J., Hubbard C., Saidi M., Stojkovic D., Tocco B., Tregear A., Veneziani M. (2022). Strengthening the sustainability of European food chains through quality and procurement policies. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 120: 248-253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.11.021.
  40. Meena S.R., Meena S.D., Pratap S., Patidar R., Daultani Y. (2019). Strategic analysis of the Indian agri-food supply chain. Opsearch, 56(3): 965-982. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12597-019-00380-5.
  41. Moragues A., Morgan K., Moschitz H., Neimane I., Nilsson H., Pinto M., Rohracher H., Ruiz R., Thuswald M., Tisenkopfs T., Halliday J. (2013). Urban food strategies: the rough guide to sustainable food systems, FP7 project FOODLINKS (GA No. 265287), European Commission, Brussels.
  42. Morgan K. (2009). Feeding the city: The challenge of urban food planning. International Planning Studies, 14(4): 341-348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13563471003642852.
  43. MUFPP (2017a). Policy brief no. 15: Copenhagen – Organic public procurement and sustainable food systems, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Milan, https://www.milanurbanfoodpolicypact.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Brief-15-Copenhagen-2017.pdf
  44. MUFPP (2017b). Policy brief no. 5: Ljubljana – Short food supply chains and local food systems, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Milan, https://www.milanurbanfoodpolicypact.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Brief-5-Liubiana-2017.pdf
  45. MUFPP (2019). City Montpellier - Structuration de l'approvisionnement durable, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Milan, https://www.milanurbanfoodpolicypact.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FSD-Montpellier-2019.pdf
  46. MUFPP (2024). Wholesale markets: Public spaces for interconnected food policies, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Milan.
  47. Namugenyi C., Nimmagadda S. L., Reiners T. (2019). Design of a SWOT analysis model and its evaluation in diverse digital business ecosystem contexts. Procedia Computer Science, 159: 1145-1154. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2019.09.283.
  48. Nelson M., Zak K., Davine T., Pau S. (2016). Climate change and food systems research: current trends and future directions. Geography Compass, 10(10): 414-428. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12281.
  49. Petriccione G., Dell’Aquila C., Perito M.A. (2011). Ortofrutta e catena del valore globale. Agriregionieuropa, 7(27): 10.
  50. Provincia di Parma (2023). La popolazione in Provincia di Parma all’1.1.2023 e gli scenari future, Provincia di Parma, Parma.
  51. Salali H.E., Akyüz Y., Atakan P., Günden C., Yercan M. (2024). A review of guidelines on agri-food value chain modeling. In Mattas K., Baourakis G., Zopounidis C., Staboulis C. (eds) Value Chain Dynamics in a Biodiverse Environment. Cooperative Management, Springer, Cham. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-49845-9_6.
  52. Sgroi F., Musso D. (2022). Urban food strategies and sustainable agri-food systems: Results of empirical analysis in Palermo. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 10, 100436. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100436.
  53. Slade C., Baldwin C., Budge T. (2016). Urban planning roles in responding to food security needs. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 7(1): 33-48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2016.071.005.
  54. SogeMi (2021). Foody, mercato agroalimentare Milano, SogeMi S.p.A., Milan.
  55. SogeMi (2025). Mercati di quartiere, SogeMi S.p.A., Milan.
  56. The European House – Ambrosetti (2024). Marca del Distributore e Made in Italy: il ruolo della Distribuzione Moderna, ADM Associazione Distribuzione Moderna, Milan.
  57. Willett W., Rockström J., Loken B., Springmann M., Lang T., Vermeulen S., Garnett T, Tilman D., DeClerck F., Wood A., Jonell M., Clark M, Gordon L.J., Fanzo J., Hawkes, Rami Zurayk C., Rivera J.A., De Vries W., Majele Sibanda L., Afshin A., Chaudhary A., Herrero M., Agustina R., Branca F., Lartey A., Fan S., Crona B., Fox E., Bignet V., Troell M., Lindahl T., Singh S., Cornell S.E., Reddy K.S., Narain S., Nishtar S., Murray C.J.L. Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems. The Lancet, 393(10170): 447-492. ISSN 0140-6736. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4.
  58. Wongprawmas R., Mora C., Pellegrini N., Guiné R.P., Carini E., Sogari G., Vittadini E. (2021). Food choice determinants and perceptions of a healthy diet among Italian consumers. Foods, 10(2): 318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020318.
  59. WUWM (2023). 2023 Cancun Conference Report - The future of Food Markets: modernizing wholesale and retail markets to meet customer expectations by 2030, World Union of Wholesale Markets, Rungis.