A Study on Functions and Marketing Cost of Wholesalers and Intermediate Wholesalers in Wholesale Markets of Vegetables and Fruits

中央批发市场体系是日本蔬菜水果流通的重要组成部分。我对东京、大坂、京都、名古屋和盛冈的中央批发销售市场进行了调查。中心批发市场由批发商和中间批发商组成。根据农户阶段和零售阶段市场体系的发展，批发商和中间批发商的职能正在发生变化。我考虑了影响这种变化的因素。在零售阶段，超市的发展是最重要的因素，本文还试图分析批发商和中间批发商的营销成本和利润。营销成本由人力成本、经营成本、土地租金、房屋租金、税费和资金利息构成。其中，人工成本在总成本中所占比重最大，批发商占45%，中间商占67%。批发商的毛销比和当期利润率都很低，分别为7.2%和0.6%，中间批发商为10.1%和0.1%。他们必须处理越来越多的事情。这就是中间批发商与超级市场打交道的原因。

The systems of central wholesale markets are the most important part in the distribution of vegetables and fruits in Japan. I conducted investigations of central whole sale markets in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Morioka. Central wholesale markets are composed of wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers. According to the development of the marketing systems in farmer's stage and retail stages, the functions of wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers are undergoing changes recently. I considered the factors which affect this changes. The development of supermarkets is most important factors in retail stages.I also tried to analyzed the marketing cost and margin of wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers. The marketing cost consist of labor cost, operating cost, land & house rent, tax & obligation and capital interest. The labor cost is most important item in the total cost, 45% for wholesalers and 67% for intermediate wholesalers. The ratio of gross profit to sales and the ratio of current profits are both low, 7.2% & 0.6% for wholesalers and 10.1% &0.1% for intermediate wholesalers. They must deal more and more. This is a reason which intermediate wholesalers are dealing with supermarkets.