In 2024, the Frischezentrum Frankfurt can look back on a 20-year success story at its current location in the northern district of Kalbach-Riedberg. After just over a year of construction, the wholesale centre was opened in June 2004, making it the most modern wholesale centre in Germany to date. "The development of the centre is a testament to innovation, commitment and strategic planning. Some retailers have been involved right from the start and their ideas were incorporated into the construction planning," explains Silke Pfeffer, Managing Director of Frischezentrum Frankfurt am Main - Großmarkt Ltd.
Click here for the complete picture gallery of the fresh produce centre.
Since the opening of the new location, a functional building concept and the continuous expansion of a sustainable infrastructure have been at the centre of the company's business activities. A decisive step towards securing and further developing the location was taken in 2022 when Frischezentrum Ltd acquired the property, says Ms Pfeffer looking back. "This step not only secured the long-term operation of the Frischezentrum, but also made it possible to plan and implement further investments in the infrastructure."
Retailers in the central market hall of the fresh produce centre. The site is home to regional direct marketers as well as service providers from the food retail and national catering sectors.
The site covers an area of 128,800 m² and offers optimal conditions with a sales hall of 23,000 m², a warehouse of 16,500 m², office space of 2,300 m² and a recycling centre of 3,300 m². In addition, the roof areas were leased to enable the installation of 6,000 solar modules. The site offers around 100 retailers storage and distribution space for their wide range of goods. The recycling centre, which is also located on the site, ensures environmentally friendly waste disposal. Pfeffer: "The infrastructural framework conditions and optimal transport connections make the fresh produce centre an economic hub that makes a decisive contribution to supplying the extended Rhine-Main region with fresh food."
Silke Pfeffer has been at the helm of Frischezentrum Frankfurt am Main - Großmarkt Ltd as Managing Director since October 2015 and is therefore the first point of contact for the market companies based there.
Measures to increase energy efficiency
The development of the number of retailers, turnover volume and product range diversity demonstrate the economic importance of the fresh produce centre. With around 100 retailers, approximately 1,000 jobs and around 3,000 customers a day, the annual turnover of goods reaches around 460,000 tonnes. The supply area covers the extended Rhine-Main region, with around five million consumers. In addition to regional fruit and vegetables, the product range also includes international delicatessen specialities, fresh fish, meat, eggs and poultry, milk and dairy products, organic products, bakery and dry goods as well as flowers and plants.
"Wholesale stores such as the fresh produce centre have been classified as critical infrastructure, which emphasises their strategic importance for the security of supply in the region. In order to live up to this responsibility, the fresh produce centre continuously invests in the sustainable improvement of its infrastructure. This includes measures to increase energy efficiency, such as the renewal of the main and safety lighting, the modernisation of the refrigeration machine and its conversion for heating purposes," Ms Pfeffer continues.
Indispensable business location in the Rhine-Main region
According to the wholesale store manager, these measures not only help to reduce operating costs, they also form the basis for a sustainable expansion of the infrastructure and thus serve to further develop and secure the location. The implementation of such technologies and strategies also demonstrates the fresh produce centre's commitment to a sustainable future. "In 2024, the fresh produce centre will not only be celebrating 20 years since it opened at its current location, but also two decades of continuous innovation and improvement. Through close cooperation with retailers, strategic planning and a focus on sustainability, the wholesale centre has established itself as an indispensable business location in the Rhine-Main region," it concludes.
For more information:
Silke Pfeffer
Frischezentrum Frankfurt am Main - Wholesale Market GmbH
Josef-Eicher-Str. 10
60437 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: 069 / 5077 598 0
Fax: 069 / 5077 598 150
Email: [email protected]
www.frische-zentrum-frankfurt.de