The membership of the World Union of Wholesale Market (WUWM) shares and promotes a common base of ethical and social values as detailed below.

We are proud of our beliefs and, as such, WUWM continues to promote the concept of wholesale and retail markets as services working in the public interest, often hand-in-hand with local authorities.

In the words of Marc Spielrein, France a WUWM Honorary President and WUWM Chairman from 2002-2004: “We consider that food distribution is not a business run exclusively by economic considerations. Essential to human life, food distribution must comply with several social and ethical goals.”

• A total dedication to food safety;
• We believe that wholesale and retail markets contribute to regional, urban, economic and social development;
• We believe that the existence of retailers and retail markets depends largely upon the existence and success of wholesale markets and that the role and importance of the retail trade to the life of local communities is dependant on an effective wholesale market network;
• We believe wholesale markets allow for a better understanding of price levels and price transparency, and are successful in ensuring that this information is also made available to producers;
• A preference for fresh produce over industrialized products;
• A special interest for quality segmentation and diversity of product variety. We do not believe in mass standardized production, a system that leads only to lowering quality;

• A deep concern for environmental issues. Wholesale and retail markets take care of waste management, cleanliness, sanitation, and allow for the optimization of transport and logistical services;
• We believe there is an important role for wholesale and retail markets to play in supporting small businesses;
• We believe wholesale and retail markets have a role in ensuring the effective supply of food to the poor, and to the many diverse ethnic groups within our respective populations;
• We believe markets allow for the efficient marketing of the fresh produce of local producers - especially of the small local producers;
• We support reasonable development of the international trade of fresh produce. While we remain actively aware of certain food safety and/or globalization concerns which can only result in the creation of an archaic food nationalism, international trade allows access to new and better produce, and favors the development of non–industrialized countries.