'London's best-kept secret': UK's largest wholesale market turns 50
Young women publicising Barney Springer Ltd produce at the New Covent Garden Market on the day of its official opening in Nine Elms, London, UK, 11th November 1974
Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
By the time most Londoners had rolled out of bed on Monday morning, Gary Marshall was already winding down for the day at New Covent Garden Market.
Located on the south bank of the River Thames, surrounded by high-rise buildings glinting in the dawn of early winter, the wholesale market is the UK's largest for fruit, vegetables and flowers.
"It's London's best kept secret," Jo Breare, the market's general manager, told AFP on its 50th anniversary.
London's historic fruit and vegetable market in Covent Garden, moved from central London to the southwestern suburb of Battersea on November 11, 1974, in a bid to expand and modernise.
Marshall has been working at the market for over 45 of those years, alongside nearly 200 businesses supplying London's local grocers, restaurants, hotels and offices.
He is the third generation in his family associated with the market, and his son, George, will take over his business, Bevington Salads, after him.
"New Covent Garden is part of us. It will be part of my son's life, maybe part of my grandson's life," he said.
"Once you're in it, honestly, you're in it for life," said Marshall, who is also chairman of the New Covent Garden Tenants Association.
'Like magic'
The working "day" begins at around 10:00 pm in the evening (2200 GMT) for some 2,000 people who work at New Covent Garden, with produce arriving from all over Europe and the world.
"Once you get here at 10 o'clock, you have a cup of tea, you have a look at your produce arriving.
"And then it happens. Then the buzz is on. The market's alive," described Marshall, his eyes lit up with pride.
Traders sell their produce in "old school" fashion - face to face - through the early hours, then, as the sun rises, it is shipped out across the capital and southeast England.
"So, by the time people are getting out of bed and walking into their hotel or into their office or a school or a government building, it's there... It's like magic," said Marshall.
"If you're here at one, two or three in the morning, it's like a little city with hundreds and hundreds of people," said Wanda Goldwag, chair of the Covent Garden Market Authority, which manages New Covent Garden Market.
The New Covent Garden Flower Market in Nine Elms opened it's doors on April 3, 2017 after moving from it's previous site, also in Nine Elms where it had been since 1974Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
The sprawling complex even has its own cafes and a post office that runs from 3:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Overnight work hours, in place since a decade to remove daytime commercial traffic in the congested British capital, have made attracting younger generations tricky, according to Marshall.
But the market and its vendors have weathered many storms in the last half a century.
When demand slumped at the end of the 20th century as supermarkets grew, New Covent Garden turned its attention to the hospitality industry instead.
Relevance
The market still supplies Michelin star restaurants, celebrity chefs and upscale London landmarks such as retailer Harrods and the Claridge's hotel.
One loyal customer is French chef Pierre Koffmann, who used to frequent the market when he ran La Tante Claire, his three-Michelin star London restaurant.
"It was a pleasure to come here, to meet people who were different and talk about vegetables," Koffmann told AFP.
Now, he mainly comes down to buy flowers, from the bundles of pink-purple hydrangeas to crates of roses and tulips that the CGMA says supply 75 per cent of London's florists.
For Goldwag, remaining relevant is one of the main challenges.
"So, so many of us buy our food from supermarkets now. And of course, in tough economic times, everyone is very money conscious," she said.
"Wholesale markets have to make sure they stay relevant and sustainable."
London's other main wholesale markets, Smithfield meat market and Billingsgate fish market, face uncertain futures after plans to relocate them were put on hold.
"They could very soon be out of anywhere to work from," rued Marshall, adding that New Covent Garden would "support" the other markets.
At New Covent Garden, however, business is booming, with a turnover of £880 million last year, regeneration plans set to be completed before the end of the decade and a guaranteed lease for at least the next 25 years.
"I don't know if I'll still be here in 25 years," said Marshall. "But my son certainly will be."
Sweden has inched closer to becoming officially ‘smoke free’, government figures released on Wednesday have shown.
Smoking prevalence across the country reduced to 5.3 per cent, according to the health data released by Sweden’s public health agency, but the figure is just 4.5 per cent among the nation’s Swedish-born adults – significantly below the globally recognised benchmark of 5 per cent for smoke free status.
Campaigners who advocate for Swedish approach to reduce smoking prevalence, which combines cessation and prevention measures and programmes with accessible, acceptable, and affordable alternatives, celebrated the milestone with calls for other nations to adopt a similar approach.
“This isn’t just Sweden’s victory – it’s a proof of concept for the entire world,” said Suely Castro, founder of Quit Like Sweden, a non-profit platform.
“Today, we can celebrate a public health revolution. By complementing smoking cessation and prevention measures and programmes with accessible, acceptable, and affordable alternatives to smoking, Sweden has proven that a world with fewer smoking-related deaths and illnesses isn’t just a dream: it’s achievable. Now we need the global will to make this a worldwide success.”
Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden campaign group, said the Swedes’ success is the result of their pioneering policy approach to safer alternatives to cigarettes.
“This outstanding achievement marks a significant moment in global public health and stands as a testament to the progressive policies that have guided Sweden's approach to tobacco control,” Dr. Human commented.
“In the early 1960s, nearly half of Swedish men smoked. By embracing and encouraging the use of alternative nicotine products such as snus, oral nicotine pouches and vapes, Sweden has paved a clear path to a smoke-free society while safeguarding public health. They should serve as a beacon of hope for the rest of the world and as inspirational proof that a pragmatic, enlightened approach can deliver sensational public health gains and save lives.”
Average smoking rates in Europe (24%) are five times higher than Sweden’s, and remarkably, the data also reveals that people born elsewhere in Europe would be three times more likely to smoke if they had not moved to Sweden (24% vs 7.8%).
Dr. Anders Milton, a physician and former president and chief executive of the Swedish Medical Association, said: “Key to Sweden’s success is its pragmatic focus on harm reduction rather than prohibition. A wide range of safer nicotine products, with a variety of strengths and flavours, is legally available both online and in stores, supported by advertising, which raises awareness and encourages uptake.
“The Swedish government also applies a proportional excise tax, keeping smoke-free products more affordable than cigarettes. This tax policy, coupled with public education campaigns, has empowered Swedish consumers to make healthier choices and contributed to the country’s leading role in tobacco harm reduction.”
The benefits of Sweden’s strategy are enormous, with the country having the lowest percentage of tobacco-related diseases in the EU. Smoking-related deaths are 22 per cent lower than the EU average, while cancer incidence is 41 per cent lower.
“Rather than follow Sweden’s lead, these nations are heading in the opposite direction, with smoking prevalence stagnating or even rising. Sweden's success is living proof that alternative nicotine products are a powerful force for positive change when supported by evidence-based policies,” Dr. Human added, as he called on all countries to re-evaluate their tobacco control strategies and adopt harm reduction as a central pillar in their fight against smoking.
Marking the achievement, vape consumer body World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has urged the EU to adopt similar harm reduction strategies, noting that Sweden’s success starkly contrasts with the rest of Europe’s struggle to make progress.
“Sweden’s success is a wake-up call for the EU. While the EU is considering counterproductive measures like flavour bans and prohibitions on less harmful alternatives, Sweden has shown us a clear path to reducing smoking rates,” Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, said.
“It’s time for the EU to prioritise harm reduction and empower smokers to make healthier choices. The upcoming revisions of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Tax Directive are the EU’s chance to align with Sweden’s proven strategy.”
The EU’s current trajectory, including potential bans on e-cigarette flavours and nicotine pouches, risks pushing users towards the black market. Instead, the WVA advocated for a risk-based approach to regulation and taxation, making safer alternatives more accessible.
“Sweden’s model demonstrates that supportive policies, rather than prohibitions, lead to significant public health improvements. By adopting this approach, the EU could create a regulatory environment that encourages smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives,” Landl added.
Post Office has on Wednesday set out an ambitious five-year Transformation Plan to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ that significantly increases their total annual income through revenue sharing and strengthens their role in the direction of the organisation.
The ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ follows a strategic review initiated by Nigel Railton, chair of Post Office Ltd, in May. The Transformation Plan sets out an ambition to deliver a quarter of a billion pounds boost to postmasters’ income by 2030.
These improvements to remuneration are subject to funding discussions with government which the company said are “positive and ongoing”.
Alongside this, the Post Office is establishing a new Postmaster Panel where serving postmasters will help the business to improve the support and training it provides to postmasters. A new Consultative Council will also be established to work with the Post Office on the delivery of the Transformation Plan, and to challenge and feedback to ensure postmasters’ interests remain front and centre.
“The value postmasters deliver in their communities must be reflected in their pockets, and this Transformation Plan provides a route to adding more than £250 million annually to total postmaster remuneration by 2030, subject to government funding,” Railton said in a speech delivered to postmasters and Post Office staff.
“It begins a new phase of partnership during which we will strengthen the postmaster voice in the day-to-day running and operations of the business, so they are represented from the frontline to the boardroom.”
In the speech, Railton outlined the commercial, operational, cultural, and reputational challenges that must be addressed to deliver change for postmasters and learn the lessons from the Horizon IT public Inquiry.
“The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters. We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal,” he said.
Railton stressed that that the Transformation Plan is a five-year journey encompassing a series of changes. These include:
Strengthening postmasters’ commercial offer to their customers, particularly in banking, and to work with the government, banks, LINK and Cash Access UK to accelerate the roll out of banking hubs.
Delivering a lower-risk, better-value new branch IT system for postmasters gradually.
A major investment in the automation of cash and mails services in-branch to reduce postmasters’ cost-to-serve in their branches and to give customers the experience that they have come to expect from modern retailers.
Creating a new operating model for the business in which a streamlined central organisation acts as a support function for postmasters, offering expert support in marketing, training, and technology to postmasters.
The Post Office added that it will continue to work through the details of the Transformation Plan with colleagues, postmasters, strategic partners and organisations that represent postmasters to refine the plan and implement the changes required to transform the business.
The Post Office’s branch network size consisting of 11,500 branches will not be impacted by the Transformation Plan and the Post Office said it remains committed to strengthening its branch network and making it work better for local communities, independent postmasters and partners who own and operate branches.
“This Transformation Plan is the first step in a five-year journey that will set up the Post Office for years to come,” Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office acting chief executive, said.
“There are many consumers who primarily shop online, but there also many who struggle to use online services or actively choose to shop on their local high street and who want to be served by a human being. Postmasters across the UK serve every generation and this plan not only improves their incomes but also the support that we provide to let them run their businesses and serve their communities.”
Elliot Jacobs, serving postmaster and a non-executive director on the Post Office Board, added: “The last few years have been challenging for many retailers and postmasters are no exception. We have faced cost pressures from rising energy prices, increased national minimum wage and national insurance contributions. It’s vital that the Post Office embarks on this major Transformation Plan so that we have a sustainable financial future, and one that benefits the thousands of postmasters who work tirelessly day-in, day-out to support the local people and businesses who rely on us for essential everyday services.”
Councils will be handed new powers next month in an effort to breathe new life back into high streets and transform long-term empty shops, the government has announced.
High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) will allow local leaders to tackle persistently vacant properties in city, town and village centres by putting the leases up for auction, with businesses and community groups getting a ‘right to rent’ commercial lots.
The powers will come into force on 2 December through the legislation laid on Monday.
The government said the move will stop disengaged landlords from sitting on empty properties for more than 365 days in a 24-month period, before councils can step in and auction a one-to-five year lease.
The government has committed over £1 million in funding to support the auction process.
With one in seven high street shops currently closed, the government added that it is committed to revitalising town centres and bringing thriving high streets back for good. The announcement comes during Love Your High Street Week, organised by the British Independent Retailers Association to champion local businesses and innovation.
“This change further helps small businesses across the country, alongside new online support for exporters, a major consultation to tackle the scourge of late payments and an increase in the employment allowance for small businesses,” business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said.
“We promised to lift the shutters on our great British high streets and we’re delivering real action across the board, to boost jobs, opportunities and get the economy growing.”
The government will publish a new Small Business Strategy next year, setting out further measures to support SMEs and drive growth across the country.
Originally introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the High Street Rental Auctions powers will come into force on 2 December following the laying of secondary legislation on Monday. Before putting a property to a rental auction, a local authority must first seek to resolve the vacancy by engaging with the landlord.
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Nisa Local St Neots donates £800 to support St Neots Rugby Club
Nisa Local Longsand Parade in St Neots, a convenience store owned and operated by TYS Retail LTD, has donated £800 to St Neots Rugby Club through Nisa's Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.
The donation will be used to purchase new rugby kits for the club's youth teams.
St Neots Rugby Club is a community-based club that has been in existence for over 100 years. The club offers rugby platforms for players of all ages and abilities.
Nisa Local supported St Neots Rugby Club in 2023 with a £800 donation to help expand its youth development programs
“TYS Retail is proud to support St Neots Rugby Club once again,” said area manager Leon Swanwick. “The club plays a valuable role in giving young people in our community the chance to engage in rugby, and we hope our contribution will help it continue to thrive and expand.”
Phil Yates, president of St Neots Rugby Club, said: “We’re extremely thankful to Nisa Local for their generous donation. The funds will go towards purchasing new kits for our youth teams, replacing the old, worn kits that no longer reflect the quality of rugby we aim to deliver. The new kits will not only instil pride in our players but also help attract new talent to the club.”
“With this support, we’re thrilled to enhance our youth development programs,” Yates continued. “We believe rugby is an excellent sport for young people, and we want to make it accessible to everyone who wants to participate.”
Nisa Local St Neot’s is a convenience store located near Peterborough and has been a Nisa retailer for over five years. The store offers a wide variety of groceries, household items, and other convenience products.
The store has so far donated over £7,000 into the community through MADL. Alongside St Neots Rugby Club, they have also supported St Neots Festival, local school & PTA groups, Eaton Socon Women’s Football Team, St Neots Youth Council, St Neots Man Cave, The Kite Trust and St Neots Sentinels.
TYS Retail Ltd has donated over £70,000 through MADL till date.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Arla Foods Ingredients’ acquisition of Volac’s Whey Nutrition business.
The regulator’s go-ahead follows an evaluation that took place after an acquisition agreement was signed in April.
Both businesses manufacture and supply whey protein concentrate used for sports nutrition and food applications. The CMA has found that the merger does not give rise to “a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition” within the whey protein market.
Commenting on the announcement, Luis Cubel, group vice president and managing director of Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “This is a very welcome decision at a time when demand for high-quality whey ingredients is growing. It means we’re a step closer to a significant acquisition that would consolidate our position as a leader in the whey nutrition space.
“We will now move forward with the formal process necessary to make Volac’s Whey Nutrition business part of Arla Foods Ingredients. Once that is complete, we will be able to comment further on the many advantages of bringing together these two major manufacturers of whey ingredients – not just for both companies, but also for our customers and the industry as a whole.”
Commenting on behalf of the Neville family, James Neville, joint owner of Volac, said: “We were always confident that Arla Foods Ingredients had the necessary expertise and values to take our Whey Nutrition business to the next level, and we are delighted to have reached this important step in the acquisition process. It’s great news for Volac Whey Nutrition, and for the whey ingredients sector, that these two innovative companies have been allowed to join forces.”