A significant milestone in the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market has been reached this week after 15 wholesalers joined those already in Block B, with the new walk now fully operational
Wholesalers at New Covent Garden Market have reunited on the newly opened Buyers’ Walk this week marking a significant milestone in the market’s multi-year redevelopment.
The move, which saw 15 traditional wholesalers move to the walk, means the wholesale section of Block B is now fully operational. The whole market is now four fifths of the way to becoming fully redeveloped.
“For buyers, what we have now is a more spacious and brighter environment with six easy access points and an unhindered view along the entire 205 metres, which when the wholesalers have their impressive fruit and vegetable shows out each night will make for a great spectacle,” said project director at Covent Garden Market Authority, Tony O’Reilly.
“The 6.5 metre buyers’ walk is a little narrower than the previous iteration, but the deeper buildings and much improved lighting create a more attractive trading environment.”
The LED lighting spanning the completed block is 550 Lux, which is almost double the level of the now vacated original Blocks C/D.
The entire area is fitted with sprinklers for fire protection, checker plates on walls and corners to reduce impact damage, and gulleys for wastewater on flooring that has a life expectancy of 15 years.
“Each trader has been free to kit out their units in whatever way best suits their business, so there is a mix of mezzanines for storage and office space, false ceilings and roof-high racking in temperature controlled units that give them all the freedom run their operations in their own way,” added Reilly.
“Like everyone else associated with the Market, I’m sad to see 50 years of fantastic and storied history come to an end,” he said.
“However, what we’ve built here has the potential to make a real difference to the tenants of this market as they continue to adapt to the changing competitive marketplace over the next few decades.”
The tenants of Block B are now as follows:
301-314 Premier Foods Wholesale
315-317 Bevington Salads
318-326 P&I Fruits / Side Salads
327-330 S Thorogood & Sons (Covent Garden)
331-332 Premier Foods Wholesale
401-408 The French Garden
409-410 The London Herb Company
411-412 Supreme Salads
413-414 Neil Brown Herbs
415-416 Premier Foods Wholesale
417-418 European Speciality Foods
419-420 Premier Foods Wholesale
421-423 Covent Garden Supply
424 CSR & Sons
425-426 EA Williams
427-428 La Sovrana
The central aisle at the end of the block narrows to 4.5 metres as the traders occupying those units are not traditional wholesalers. Those businesses include:
333-334 Yes Chef
335-336 Field to Fork
337 Fine Food Specialist
431-433 All Greens
434 Bar Fruit Supplies
