Market tenants at New Covent Garden have been given a rallying call to support a move to take control of their future.
Gary Marshall, joint acting chairman of the Covent Garden Market Tenants Association, told tenants at the association’s annual dinner dance: “As most of you know the market is for sale, it’s been for sale since it opened. But now the government are getting serious and it’s out for tender.
“We’ve always wanted to be at the front of negotiations and we now feel it’s time to throw our hat in the ring.
“We’ve joined forces with Nick Saphir and we’re looking to secure a long-term future for the market. We have a trading turnover of £500 million and we’re the biggest and some say the best market in Britain.”
Traders were urged to get on board with the plan by Dicky Evans, chief executive of Flamingo Holdings. He said: “You’re an institution and we need institutions. I know you’re under pressure, we’re all under pressure, but you have a half-a-billion-pound business, and that’s half the size of Northern Foods.”
Saphir said the joint venture would see the tenants join forces with his own company, Heronden Market Investments, and seek out the right property investors.
“The arrangement would see the joint company take care of the management of the market while the investor would be the landlord,” said Saphir. The business plan was given the go-ahead by the association and Saphir said he is drafting a business prospectus for the tenants to agree upon.
“We're aiming to have that out to all tenants in July for them to agree or suggest changes. If we get 75 per cent take up then we're all in business.”
The CGTA annual dinner dance proved a big success said Marshall: “We had a much bigger turnout this year and even had visitors from the Netherlands.”
The event was organised by the entertainment committee, made up of Marshall, Peter Fowler and Jason Tanner. A total of more than £22,000 was raised for the Trinity Hospice and the Anthony Nolan Trust.
Next year’s event will be on June 10, and due to this year’s demand, early booking is advised.
The outstanding total raised at the dinner was thanks to the generosity of the following companies, who donated prizes:
Allison; A Lay; A Booth; A Gomez; A V Produce; Allweather; All Floors; Bevington Salads; Bishop Skinner; Bobby Brooker; Bill Bury & Martin Hart; Bruce White; Bob Kent; Capespan; Catalina; Castillo; Charlie Rees; C & H Electrical; C & C Fruit; Covent Garden Buyers; Charlton Printers; Chefs Connection; Classic Fresh Fruit; Cream of the Crop; Copthorn Hotel; CGMA; CGTA; County Supplies; Daily Bread; Danny Cough; Derek of Bromley; Dennis Edwards; DDP Limited; Donovan Bros; European Salads; Entremettier; Elsey & Bent (Borough Market); Fenn Hexton; Finlayson; Flavour; Fresh Produce Consortium; French Garden; Greenhill; Golden Fruit; George Coleman; Geoff Hurren; Gilgrove; Gary Ellingham Fruit; Grivan; Kenya Airways; HG Walker; Hardwick Family; Mr & Mrs R Evans; Hemingways; H & B Hawkes; Hilliard; I A Harris; Janic (Import/Export) Limited; Ian Knight; John & Duncan Lewis; J A R Saner; Joe & Larry Barratt; A Johnson; J L M Produce; Jalley; J P Bananas; Jacko; John Hurren; Kothari & Co A/CS; Louis Konyn; Linde Forklift; Lodge Wholesale; Lyn Royal Potatoes; Lennards; Lawsons; Linkclass; London Quality Fruit; Michael Wright; Magnin; Midifruit; Moss W H; Mealmaker; MBL Co Limited; M G & Sons; Mash Purveyors; Mundi Fruit; Mr & Mrs Cousins; Mushroom Man; Natures Choice; Nationwide Produce; Newmans; Noakhill Potatoes; Oxford Street Traders; Paxmead; Peter Condon; P & I Fruit; Premier Fruits; Philip Harrington; Pavitts; Poupart Group; QSP; Rushtons; Roger Thomas; Ray Fisher; R G Stevens; Sherringhams; R Tealings; Seaside Salads; Syed Brothers; Southern Fruit Brokers; Sparshotts St Albans; Steve Wells; T J Wholesale; Tommy Hogg; The Personal Catering Company; Total Value Marketing; TGWU; TDA (London) Limited; Thorogood; Tofts & Sons; Tonys Café (Duncan); TCK; Vicasol; Vincenzo; Vitacress (Western International); WHA Farmers; Westminster; Wellard of Dover
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