Borough Market has kicked out eight traders as a bitter row over the establishment of a new market took a new twist this week.
A spokesman for Borough said that having issued notice to the eight traders in December 2010 about the possible consequences of them establishing and trading at a new market at nearby Maltby Street, it had this week asked them to leave immediately.
The dispute between Borough Market and the eight firms - Hophurst Farm, Topolski, The Ham & Cheese Company, The Borough Cheese Company, Rennett & Press, Mons, KaseSwiss and Kappacasein - arose because many began trading at Maltby Street.
A Borough spokesperson said: “The decision of some of these traders to sell fresh produce at nearby Maltby Street and to offer hot food only at Borough Market potentially damages this market and harms the interests of other traders here. This is simply unacceptable to us. Some in this group of eight openly promote the outdated line that Borough Market is a tourist trap and that our intelligent and discerning food shoppers should come to the new Maltby Street market instead. For those who firmly believe this, the only route is to leave the market.”
However, at least one of the traders, dubbed the ‘Maltby Eight’, denied that the warning was ever issued.
Elliott John of The Ham & Cheese Co told FPJ that the eight traders were due to meet on 12 May to consider their position.
Another trader called the market’s decision “unjust” and criticised trustees for “sending a wave of fear through the rest of the market” by its actions. But the same trader admitted a return to the market was a possibility if the management team changed.
Meanwhile, Borough’s trustees hit back at the eight. “The trustees of Borough Market cannot condone the actions of these traders who receive subsidised pitches and service costs at Borough Market and seek to use the profits they earn - on the back of these subsidies - to put at risk the commercial interests of their fellow traders who trade only from - and remain loyal to - Borough Market and their customers,” a Borough statement read.
