1992 Volume 34 Pages 11-20
Precontract negotiations largely based on market information, have increased at the wholesale market of fruits and vegetables in Japan. In this condition, it has become clear that not only physical distribution but also information are concentrating in the market. The connection between the wholesale market system and the invisible supply system is growing stronger. Thus the distribution of perishable foods is being integrated. I call this system "the integrated marketing system led by information". In this marketing sytem, the connection between the large producing districts and the large wholesale markets becomes strong, and the separation between negotiation and physical distribution makes much progress. As a result of these changes, the middle and small wholesale markets, which depend on information from large markets, are weakening the functions of cargo collection and price formation. The middle and small markets also are becoming the branch of distribution center for the large markets.
