The UK’s largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market is celebrating 50 years of buying and selling in South London.
New Covent Backyard Market moved out of the West Finish to 9 Elms, in Battersea in November 1974.
An important lifeline for London’s culinary and floristry trades, the market has been feeding and flowering the capital for many years with prospects inluding luxurious establishments like Harrods, Claridge’s, the capital’s high Michelin starred eating places, the Royal Households and the animals of ZSL London Zoo.
To mark the anniversary, wholesalers have shared their recollections of the market through the years.
Gary Marshall, proprietor of New Covent Backyard Market wholesaler Bevington Salads and chairman of the New Covent Backyard Tenants Affiliation, has labored at the marketplace for practically 45 years.
He mentioned: “I’ve seen how this market has modified over the many years, with my joyful recollections of the market stretching all the way in which again to being a youngster.
“I adopted my father and grandfather into the market commerce and like different wholesalers right here, I’m proud to say that my enterprise is being handed on by means of the generations.
“New Covent Backyard Market is greater than only a market. We’re the lifeblood of the availability chain in London and the South East of England.
“It’s testomony to the continued ardour, dedication and experience of each dealer right here that we are able to say New Covent Backyard Market was the market chief a century in the past, the market chief 50 years in the past and we stay the wholesale market chief now.”
Covent Backyard Market has a protracted and vibrant historical past. The unique location within the West Finish which gave the market its title, performed host to horticulture markets for hundreds of years.
The primary written reference to “the brand new market in Covent Backyard” dates again so far as 1654.
Within the Seventies, the market relocated to 9 Elms on the South Financial institution, formally opening for enterprise on 11 November 1974.
The late Queen Elizabeth II opened the positioning at a ceremony the next 12 months.
Now, New Covent Backyard Market’s 175 wholesale merchants promote fruit, greens and flowers all year long from their 35 acre web site. The merchants usually work by means of the night time, bringing an annual turnover of practically £900million.
This treasure trove of flavours and florals spans all the pieces from Tahiti limes sourced from Marrakech to the best English asparagus from Evesham.
As a consequence of its ‘round-the clock’ operations, the market has been house to a number of public homes in its time and nonetheless performs host to its personal cafes, and a Publish Workplace.
Wanda Goldwag chair of New Covent Backyard Market Authority, says: “New Covent Backyard Market has been the beating coronary heart of London’s meals provide chain for 50 years.
“Offering the freshest produce to our vibrant metropolis is a lot greater than a job for our wholesalers, it’s their ardour and their livelihood and for a lot of of them, it has been a baton to cross on by means of generations.
“We’re extremely proud to characterize a various market with a lot historical past. As we mirror on the legacy of this nice market, we additionally stay up for the subsequent 50 years.
“The challenges of in the present day – from sustainability to evolving buyer calls for – imply we should work more durable than ever to make sure New Covent Backyard Market stays a thriving hub for generations to return.
“Our dedication to nurturing the market and supporting the communities it serves has by no means been stronger.”
For extra data, go to newcoventgardenmarket.com or comply with on social media at @marketfood and @marketflowers.
Pictured high: Flowers being bought at Covent Backyard market (Image: Clive-Boursnell)
