The first meeting of the Association of London Markets at New Covent Garden Market this week painted a very positive future for national markets ahead of the government’s Select Committee report, due to be released next month.
Graham Wilson, chief executive of the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), told the open forum that markets throughout the UK need a national focus and said that he believes the Select Committee report will bring good news for the market industry as a whole.
“If you have a problem within your market, there are currently seven government departments that may be able to help you and it is a long process,” he said. “The committee will ask the government to identify a market champion - a designated minister that will deal with the industry.
“The report researches the two ways markets bring value [economic and social] and we think we are beginning to win this battle. It includes the different operations that are represented in markets coming together and working beyond any groups. Operators, traders, town centre managers, farmers’ markets and all involved will come together for national context…
“Once the report has been published, the government will have two months to respond and it has been indicated that we will have a response by early autumn. It is a really exciting time for markets.”
Krys Zasada, policy development manager for NABMA, added to the positivity by announcing that markets are excelling through the economic downturn.
He said: “What has been interesting is that, certainly at retail market level, there has been an increase in footfall [over the last 18 months]. There are currently 1,333 traditional retail markets in the UK and that figure has remained stable from 1994. But that, of course, does not give us the scale of the markets that are still there. There are 26 wholesale markets, compared to 34 some 15 years ago. The combined turnover of all markets in the UK is £8 billion - which is significant.”
Zasada told FPJ that the public still has an affection for markets and that wholesale markets have benefited as a result, but hanging onto the extra custom once the recession is over will be an important challenge.
He said: “The market outlets need to remain constant in their service and the good-quality produce they are providing. People are coming to them for good value and that needs to continue.”
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