St James Wholesale Market in Bradford has retained its crown as the nation’s best wholesale market at the National Association
of British Market Authorities (NABMA) awards.
This is the 60th year that the competition has been running and as many as 1,000 members of the public voted through its website, totalling more than the last three years put together.
Graham Wilson, chief executive of NABMA, said the entries were “outstanding”, adding that the winning markets demonstrated
cutting-edge business practices and strategies that had helped them to achieve success.
“We had a fantastic competition for the best wholesale market with three markets shortlisted; Bradford, New Covent Garden Market and New Spitalfields Market,” he said.
“Bradford won for the second year in a row because we were impressed with its waste management and carbon footprint
strategies. It hasn’t got the size or reputation of the London markets, but it is very much leading the way.”
In the next few months, NABMA will be showing other markets the good practices the winners demonstrated and will also set out helpful guidelines in a new good-practice handbook.
Wilson said: “There are lots of innovative schemes we will be able to recommend. It’s all about increasing proficiency by bringing new ideas and we will make sure the message gets out to the rest of the markets.”
Other prizes awarded include:
• Best Indoor Market - Blackburn Market
• Best Small Speciality Market - Brighouse Totally
Locally Market
• Best Speciality Market - Belfast Christmas Market
• Best Private Market - Hitchin Market
• Best UK Market Attraction - Bury
• Britain’s Favourite Market - Doncaster Market.
