Patterns of restructuring food markets in South Africa: The case of fresh produce supply chains

The restructuring process of the food markets in South Africa is at an advanced stages of consolidation and the emergence dominance of few supermarket chains expanding into non-traditional areas, through franchise format stores and forecourt stores overtaking informal wet markets and green grocers. The growth has been followed by consolidation of the procurement system from a decentralised to a centralised procurement and distribution mechanism replacing the wholesaling function of the National Fresh Produce Markets. The growth in disposable income, , population growth and urbanization have fuelled the demand food outlets like supermarkets which in turn fuels innovations and dynamic changes surrounding supermarkets Keywords: Fresh produce, Procurement, South Africa