– Ali, could you tell us a bit about your job? What do you do at Bksas?
– Simply put, my job is to resell fresh fruits and vegetables on the wholesale market. I work with fruits that supermarkets reject upon arrival.
– What is the goal of your work?
– My goal is to sell the goods before they perish at best possible price. I must find buyers and collect the money. The wholesale market is rather unstable since supply and demand often vary considerably. When supply exceeds demand, I am obliged to reduce my price.
– What are the stages of selling products on the market?
– I usually start by selling by the pallet, directly from the truck, on the ramp. After three days, I unload the remaining pallets from the truck into a cold store and sell them from there. Whenever necessary, I hire an assistant to help me unload the goods.
– What are the challenges in your work?
– There is only one wholesale market in Moscow nowadays: “Food City”; it is like a monopoly. All vegetables and fruits for wholesale trade in Russia are sent there, which often creates an impression of oversupply. In addition, our rejections are irregular. So we don’t rent a permanent warehouse. I need to book a space for my truck on the spot each time. Regular customers might struggle to find me.
– What products do you sell most often?
– This season, I sold a lot of cherry tomatoes origin Senegal, pomegranates, mangos, and lychees.
– Are any items easier to resell than others?
– Everything depends on quality, shelf life, supply, and demand. When there are many similar products on the market, it is harder to sell.