Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) is celebrating with tenants this week after formalising agreements allowing three traders to sell meat and fish face to face.
As reported in last week's Journal, the three tenants are already well established on the market as distributors, but are now able to sell their products to customers directly at their premises, subject to compliance with appropriate food-hygiene regulations.
"This is a step forward for the authority which we are sure will form the basis for further similar developments allowing New Covent Garden to continue to offer the widest range of foodstuffs to the catering trade," said CGMA chairman Leif Mills.
The three tenants are CST Ltd, a large supplier of meat to the catering trade; Clearwater Fine Foods (Europe) Ltd which imports live lobsters from Canada; and Grivan Products Ltd which trades in smoked salmon, poultry, hams and gourmet foodstuffs.
The move has clearly delighted these tenants.
"This will open up new markets and for the catering butcher in particular, the preparation of retail cuts of meat and poultry sales in seasonal times," said George Simcock, director of CST.
The changes have been eagerly anticipated by Clearwater. "This has been a long time in coming," said manager Mark Johnson. "It can change Clearwater's fortunes quite significantly, but more importantly it has proven to be a huge step for the market authority."
And Philippe Augier of Grivan described the described the development possibilities as "immense".
The tenants association also welcomed the progress. "The broadening of activities on site is in everyone's interests," said Peter Fowler, Covent Garden Market Tenants Association president. "It will improve the service available to our customers in the catering trade and will encourage the development of links between operators in different product sectors."
Pictured left to right at the market toasting the new development on Monday are: Colin Farey (CGMA ); Leif Mills; Philip Hudson (Clearwater Fine Foods); George Simcock; Philippe Augier; Peter Fowler; Mike Liggins (CGMA general manager); Mark Johnson.
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