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Abstract
Excerpts from the report: This study was conducted to analyze the present wholesale food marketing system in the Los Angeles area and to determine if improvements in the system are possible. To achieve this objective, data were gathered relating to the costs and operating methods of present facilities. In the beginning, the present marketing system was analyzed. Then, the cost of developing a new food distribution center was estimated. Thus, the amount of land, types of facilities, costs of construction, and probable operating expenses were determined. The data relating to the amount of each commodity received by the wholesalers and the costs of handling the products from point of initial receipt through the various wholesale channels were obtained by personal interviews and selected time studies. This study was concerned with 538 selected corporate chainstores and affiliated wholesalers and independent wholesalers of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products, poultry and eggs, frozen foods, manufactured dairy products, groceries, and fish and shellfish. The total tonnage of hard cheese, butter, and other manufactured products handled by fluid milk processing plants was included. The tonnage of fluid milk products, cottage cheese, ice cream, and related products was excluded. Slaughtering plants, brokerage firms, and firms that retailed more than 50 percent of their volume were not included in this study.