Strengthening Trust and Collaboration in Produce: Insights from Food Experts Ahead of Fruit Logistica 2026

As the global produce community prepares to gather at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany, one theme is more important than ever: the critical role of data and communication across the supply chain. With retailers, growers, and technology partners navigating shifting expectations around safety, quality, and compliance, meaningful progress relies on strong, continuous collaboration.

Few understand this dynamic better than Javier Cilla, who leads work at Food Experts supporting retailers and their extensive supplier networks across Europe. In a recent discussion, he shared what matters most in fresh produce today, plus how strategic partnerships can help the industry move forward together.

Retailer Collaboration: The Key to Scalable, Sector‑Wide Impact

Food Experts primarily works with major retailers across Europe, but their influence extends far beyond these organizations. Because retailers act as the central link between consumers and hundreds of suppliers, supporting them effectively means elevating standards across the entire supply chain.

“Our main customers are retailers. Their suppliers are also customers to us, but working closely with retailers is essential,” Cilla said. “Instead of going to 500 suppliers one by one, you collaborate with one retailer—and that retailer then asks those suppliers to come to you. It takes longer, but it is much more efficient.”

This relationship is built on consistency and communication.

Food Experts meets with retailers frequently, providing updates, insights, and practical recommendations, not just data. Such as:

End-to-End Compliance & Safety

Food Experts provides systems that help large-scale retailers and importers verify and certify fresh produce from global growers and suppliers. This includes pesticide residue testing and compliance with regulations like Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).

Sustainability Metrics

The Food Experts platform tracks sustainability indicators such as water usage, carbon footprint, and biodiversity practices, helping retailers and suppliers meet ESG goals.

Real-Time Traceability

By enabling real-time data sharing between suppliers, importers, and retailers, Food Experts ensure transparency and accountability from farm to shelf.

Automation of Supplier Declarations

They streamline compliance processes by automating supplier documentation, reducing manual errors and speeding up approvals.

Retailers are under pressure to balance product quality, consumer expectations, price, and safety. With limited time to manually review information, they rely on partners who can interpret data and provide actionable insights.

“They are very busy people,” Cilla notes. “It is our role to tell them: these suppliers are performing better; we are identifying issues in a specific crop; or we are seeing a trend in the data. That guidance is what they value most.”

What Sets Strong Performers Apart in Today’s Produce Market

Across the sector, successful retailers share a common foundation: a strong commitment to food safety.

While the market may segment by price point or consumer preference, safety expectations remain constant. Whether a shopper chooses a budget‑friendly option or a premium product, both must meet stringent legal and quality requirements.

“The common base is food safety,” says Cilla. “Retailers need to make sure what they are offering to consumers is safe. That is where we participate—ensuring growers follow good agricultural practices, that analysis supports product safety, and that suppliers understand the requirements.”

Food Experts’ technology platform enables retailers to house all due‑diligence documentation in one place, but the true value comes from interpretation:

“We are not just software. We are a service provider. Retailers value that we can show them market trends, identify risks, and help them understand their position compared to competitors.”

This blend of compliance confidence and strategic insight is becoming increasingly essential as the produce landscape evolves.

Fresh Challenges, Shared Responsibility

Today’s retailers and growers face growing complexity, from global supply shifts to consumer expectations for year‑round availability of seasonal products. Cilla emphasizes the importance of balancing these pressures responsibly.

The core message is simple: everyone in the sector plays a significant role.

“At the end of the day, we are all in one sector. Leaders should be conscious, be proud, but also be careful—because of the impact they have on fresh produce.”

This mindset mirrors the purpose of gatherings like Fruit Logistica: to reflect, to share knowledge, and to work collectively toward a stronger and more transparent global supply chain.

Looking Ahead to Fruit Logistica 2026

Fruit Logistica remains one of the most influential global events for fresh produce. It brings together thousands of industry professionals from more than 90 countries. For organizations like Food Experts, it’s a powerful opportunity to:

-Strengthen relationships with retailers and growers

-Identify emerging risks and innovations

-Share best practices across markets

-Collaborate on the sector’s most pressing challenges

As the industry continues its rapid evolution, these connections help ensure that safety, transparency, and quality remain at the center of global produce systems.

Connect with Us at Fruit Logistica

Cultura Technologies and Food Experts will be engaging with partners throughout the conference next week. If you’re attending Fruit Logistica and want to explore how data, insights, and collaboration can strengthen your sourcing and supply chain programs, we’d like to meet with you.

Let’s connect!

Javier Cilla

Managing Director at Food Experts

Olaf Mahl 

Group Leader

Jordi Martí Centeno

Sales and Marketing Team Lead at Food Experts

Juan Martin Mancheno Remache

Investments and Collaborations – Business Developer