London Markets’ Month starts next week, and heralds the first coming together of the six major London wholesale markets to promote greater trade and authority awareness of the importance of the sector to the capital’s food supply chain.
Not before time would be my first reaction, although that is not to underestimate in any way the difficulties involved with bringing not just the fresh produce sector, but also the flower, meat and fish trades, on board for a united push.
Tenants are not immediately central to October’s efforts, which will focus on fostering links and understanding in the local communities. But the tenants are, of course, central to everything that is wholesale in London. Without them, there would be no markets and the food chain would be a far bleaker place.
In time, they are the people who should gain most from this initiative. There have been some divisive issues in London wholesale to deal with since the turn of the millennium. They will not disappear overnight, but let’s hope that a new way of working and greater co-operation, at authority level at least, can filter through to tenant level and encourage a more unified approach to common goals.
Tenants all face competition from similar quarters, have customers with similar issues, and therefore have so much to share. It might not come naturally, but there is great strength to be found in their considerable numbers.