From the avocado on your brunch plate to the vegetables in your evening meal, a significant portion of the fresh produce enjoyed by Londoners daily originates at New Covent Garden Market. This historic wholesale hub, a cornerstone of the capital's supply chain, has now completed a substantial upgrade, ensuring the city's access to top-quality, nutrition-rich fruit and vegetables for decades ahead.
A Milestone in Market Redevelopment
New Covent Garden Market has reached a pivotal moment in its redevelopment programme with the opening of the second section of a 205-metre Buyers' Walk. This modern, purpose-built facility reunites 15 traditional wholesalers, marking a significant advancement for the UK's leading wholesale market. The market serves as a crucial link for retail and hospitality businesses across London and the South East of England, connecting them to growers of premium, seasonal produce worldwide and feeding millions of Britons every day.
Extended Trading Hours for Enhanced Accessibility
The launch of the new facility has been accompanied by an extension of trading hours, aimed at improving accessibility for independent shops, restaurants, and caterers serving communities in London and the South East. Wholesalers on the Buyers' Walk will now operate from midnight to 7am, six days a week, facilitating faster delivery of fresher produce to its destinations.
Gary Marshall, Chairman of the Covent Garden Tenants Association, highlighted the strategic reassessment behind this move. "It is a simple but potentially transformative decision," he stated. "This allows customers to visit later in the morning when deliveries are complete, and the Buyers' Walk remains fully operational to meet their specific needs. While we still advise arriving before 7am for the best selection, we anticipate customers will soon reap the benefits of our new state-of-the-art operations."
To further incentivise businesses, a two-month period of free entry for customers will be offered in February and March, encouraging visits to explore the new approach.
State-of-the-Art Facilities for Quality Assurance
Wanda Goldwag OBE, Chair of CGMA, the market's landlord, emphasised the long-term vision: "We have constructed a facility that will enable our tenants to remain integral to the fruit and vegetable supply chain for London and the South East for decades. These facilities allow them to reassess their businesses, create improved working environments, and adapt to evolving customer demands."
Rob McAuliffe, General Manager of CGMA, detailed the advanced features of the new facility. "The Buyers' Walk incorporates state-of-the-art LED lighting, precise temperature control, and enhanced safety measures, all designed to maintain produce in peak condition from arrival to sale. Spanning 205 metres in length and 64 metres wide, this wholesale section includes advanced fire protection systems and durable flooring built to last 15 years."
Enhanced Storage and Presentation for Better Produce
Each trader has been granted the freedom to customise their units to best suit their operations, incorporating mezzanines for storage and office space, along with temperature-controlled areas. This flexibility enables better product showcasing and tailored customer service.
Rob McAuliffe explained the practical benefits: "Our tenants now benefit from a secure, well-lit, temperature-controlled, and fully enclosed Buyers' Walk. This eliminates the need to move premium produce between ambient and cold environments, ensuring controlled conditions throughout the supply chain."
Gary Marshall, whose firm Bevington Salads recently relocated, underscored the impact on quality: "This upgrade enhances both quality and shelf life, benefiting wholesalers, growers, and suppliers alike. It encourages the delivery of the finest produce, knowing it will be handled correctly. These facilities allow us to expand our ranges and increase volumes in ways previously impossible, leading to better presentation, more choice, and superior quality for the independent businesses that feed London."
From Historic Roots to a Modern Future
Originally situated at Covent Garden in central London, from which it derives its name, the market relocated to its current 35-acre south bank site, officially opening on 11 November 1974. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ceremonially opened the market the following year. Today, tenants at New Covent Garden Market generate over £940 million in annual turnover.
With the completion of the Buyers' Walk, the redevelopment programme is now more than 80% finished. Wanda Goldwag outlined the next steps: "We will proceed with redeveloping the entire market, demolishing the original Buyers' Walk to create new homes for the remaining tenants in buildings dating back to 1974. It has been a lengthy process, but we are nearing completion. Soon, New Covent Garden Market will stand as both the oldest wholesale market brand and the newest, state-of-the-art facility in the country, securing London's supply of premium fresh produce for generations to come."
