How Produce Market Supplies Fresh Produce
A structured approach to fresh produce supply built around transparency, consistency and long-term commercial relationships
Produce Market Ltd operates differently from a standard fresh produce trader. Our model is built around structure, accountability and genuine alignment between growers and buyers — creating a supply chain that works better for everyone involved. Here is exactly how we do it.
THE SOURCING SIDE
Three ways we source fresh produce for the UK market
How we work with growers and suppliers
The foundation of everything we do is how we bring product into the UK market. We have developed three distinct sourcing models, each designed to suit a different type of grower or supplier relationship. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we work within whichever model best fits the grower's situation, capability and commercial objectives.
Understanding how we source is important for buyers too — because the sourcing model directly affects the consistency, quality accountability and commercial structure of the supply you receive.
Fresh produce supply in the UK is often characterised by fragmented, reactive sourcing — traders buying wherever they can find product and selling it wherever they can move it. That approach creates pricing instability, quality inconsistency and a lack of accountability when things go wrong. Our three sourcing models are designed specifically to address those weaknesses.
Grower Representation
We are nominated by the grower to represent them exclusively in the UK market. We manage everything on their behalf — from sales and client communication through to quality oversight and transparent reporting on every shipment. Growers retain full ownership of their product throughout. We charge a fixed 8% commission on sales, covering the full scope of our representation service. This is our most structured and comprehensive sourcing model and the one we believe delivers the best long-term outcomes for both growers and UK buyers
Commission Sales
A grower or supplier provides product and we market and sell it on their behalf, taking a commission on completed sales. This model suits suppliers who have product available and need active UK market sales support without the full structure of a representation agreement. We bring the same commercial discipline and market knowledge to commission sales as we do to representation — the difference is the scope and depth of the ongoing relationship.
Direct Trading
In some cases we buy product outright from a supplier and sell it into the UK market. In this model the supplier is a straightforward product source and we operate as the buyer and reseller. This is the most transactional of our three sourcing models and suits situations where a structured representation or commission relationship is not appropriate or available. Even within direct trading we maintain our standards around quality, communication and commercial integrity.
WHY THE COMBINATION MATTERS
How our sourcing and selling models combine to create a better supply chain
Bringing both sides together
The real strength of the Produce Market model is not any single sourcing or selling approach in isolation — it is the way the two sides combine. When a grower is properly represented in the UK market and a buyer has a structured supply programme in place, the result is a supply chain that is more stable, more transparent and more commercially efficient than anything a standard trading model can produce
Consider the difference. In a conventional trading model, a trader buys product speculatively, takes on all the pricing risk and then sells it wherever they can at whatever margin they can achieve. The grower has no visibility of the end buyer. The buyer has no direct connection to the origin. When something goes wrong — a quality issue, a pricing dispute, a supply gap — there is no real accountability because the relationships are transactional and the interests of each party are not aligned.
In our model, the grower knows exactly where their product is going and at what price. The buyer knows exactly where their product is coming from and what standard it has been grown and packed to. We sit in the middle managing the commercial and logistical complexity — but the relationship is transparent on both sides.
Transparency
Every shipment, every price and every quality report is communicated clearly to both the grower and the buyer. There are no hidden margins, no undisclosed markups and no surprises. If there is an issue with a shipment we report it fully — to the grower and to the buyer — and we work to resolve it properly rather than covering it up to protect a short-term margin.
Communication
We maintain active, regular communication with both growers and buyers throughout every supply relationship. That means proactive updates on availability and pricing, early warning of any supply or quality issues and clear, prompt responses to any queries. Good communication is not a differentiator in our business — it is a baseline requirement.
Quality Oversight
We take an active role in quality management across every supply relationship we manage. For represented growers that means regular quality reporting, feedback from buyers and transparent assessment of every shipment. For buyers it means they are receiving product that has been properly assessed and managed from origin — not just passed through a trading desk without scrutiny.
Accountability
When something goes wrong in a supply chain — and in fresh produce, things do go wrong — the question is who is accountable and how quickly they respond. In our model the answer is always clear. We are accountable to both the grower and the buyer and we manage issues transparently, promptly and in the interests of the long-term relationship rather than the short-term transaction.
Need clarity on the model?
How We Work FAQs
Clear answers to the most common questions about how Produce Market sources fresh produce from international growers and supplies it to UK buyers, covering all three sourcing models and all three selling models.
What is the difference between grower representation and commission sales?
Representation ModelGrower representation is a comprehensive model where we manage the full UK commercial presence of a grower on their behalf — including sales, client communication, quality oversight and market reporting. Commission sales is a more focused arrangement where we sell product on behalf of a supplier and take a commission on completed sales. Representation involves a deeper, more structured long-term relationship while commission sales is better suited to suppliers who need active sales support without the full scope of a representation agreement.
What does the 8% commission cover?
Our Representation ModeOur 8% representation commission covers the full scope of our UK market representation service — sales management, client communication, quality oversight, shipment reporting, issue resolution and ongoing market intelligence. It is a fixed, transparent fee with no hidden charges or additional costs layered on top.
Can I buy product without committing to a programme?
View ProductsYes. Our open market sales model allows buyers to purchase product at current market pricing without any volume commitment or forward pricing agreement. If you need flexibility, open market buying gives you access to quality product without the structure of a programme.
What is programmed supply and is it right for my business?
Discuss a programmeProgrammed supply is a structured buying arrangement where volumes and pricing are agreed in advance for a defined period. It suits buyers who need consistent, reliable supply and want to remove the uncertainty of open market buying. If your business has a predictable and ongoing requirement for fresh produce, a programme is likely to give you better pricing, better availability and a more reliable supply experience.
What happens if there is a quality issue with a shipment?
Logistics & Supply ChainWe take quality issues seriously and manage them transparently. If a shipment arrives with a quality problem we will assess it fully, report back to both the buyer and the grower with a clear, honest account of what has happened and work to resolve the situation promptly. We do not minimise quality issues to protect short-term relationships — transparent reporting is a core part of how we operate
Do you only work with represented growers or can anyone supply you?
Get in TouchWe work with growers and suppliers across all three of our sourcing models — representation, commission sales and direct trading. Not every supplier relationship needs to be a full representation agreement. If you have product available and are looking for UK market sales support we would welcome a conversation about which model suits your situation best.
How do I know what product is available and at what price?
Request PricingFor open market product, availability and pricing reflects current market conditions and changes regularly. The best way to stay informed is to get in touch directly and we will advise you on current availability and pricing across the categories you are interested in. For programmed supply, pricing and availability are agreed and fixed at the outset of the programme.
Is Produce Market a broker, a trader or something else?
More About UsWe operate across all three of our sourcing models depending on the relationship — which means we can act as a representative, a commission agent or a direct trader depending on the situation. What distinguishes us from a standard broker or trader is the level of structure, transparency and long-term commitment we bring to every relationship, regardless of the commercial model involved.