FOODIES from around the UK turned up to Borough Market on February 21 for a tour and tasting event to celebrate the welcome return of the wholesale traders to their rightful site at the market.
The Jubilee Market, where Borough’s traders have traditionally been based, has undergone extensive renovation over the last few years and has now been restored to former glory. Traders will begin operating from their refurbished stands after Easter.
“Right on time and well within budget,” said Simone Crofton, Borough Market chief executive. “We’re all delighted, and none more so than the market’s original fruit and vegetable wholesale traders.”
George Nicholson, a trustee of the market, welcomed a 300-strong crowd to the event. “Fruit and vegetables have always been at the heart of Borough Market,” he explained. “Over the last 10 years, the retail side of the market has developed thanks to the input of three wholesale firms.
“The market would not have such a well-developed retail side if it hadn’t have been for the original wholesalers. Nowadays, some of the retailers are also starting to trade on a wholesale basis, thus helping this side of the business grow as well.
“It’s been a struggle over the last decade, but we’re finally where we wanted to be. What’s really interesting is how the market has come full circle. Both the retail and the wholesale operations are growing together in a very complementary manner.”
Providing produce of the very highest quality remains a key element of the market traders’ strategy, according to Nicholson. “Now that we have refurbished the whole market and both the retail and wholesale side have received a substantial boost, people can see that Borough is a quality operation and I feel we have a bright, confident future.”
Wholesaler Andrew Sugarman will be moving from his current temporary site back into his original Jubilee Market premises on April 6. “This is a very positive move for the market,” the Borough tenants’ association chairman told FPJ. “I feel this massively-improved infrastructure will secure a great long-term future. We have received fantastic support from the trustees and market management and this makes me really optimistic for the next few years.”
The market’s wholesale and retail businesses are very complementary to each other, according to Sugarman, with retailers raising Borough’s profile and some of them also becoming good customers of his. “Borough is a very user-friendly market with a personal feel, and this will continue long into the future.”
Gary Voight from fresh produce retailer Elsey & Bent (the retail element of wholesaler C&C Fruit Company) explains that the expansion of the retail sector has snowballed in recent years, and that under new management the business has flourished even further. “We are in a good location here, with plenty of tourists passing through, especially on a Friday and Saturday. Overall market traders are optimistic.
“The only downside is that there are proposals to build a rail track through the market, funding for which could go through this summer. Although no specific time-scale has been set yet for this project, if it goes ahead we could be forced to relocate,” he adds.
Borough Market will now be organising wholesale events three times a year based on seasonality of produce, in the spring, summer and autumn.
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