Tag Archives: New Covent Garden

New Covent Garden traders take market to court

The Covent Garden Tenants’ Association (CGTA), which represents wholesalers based in the market, has begun a legal appeal at the High Court to prevent the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market, which has been ongoing for some time.

Speaking to reporters, CGTA chairman Gary Marshall, who is also managing director of wholesaler Bevington Salads, said that the relationship between the market and its traders was at an “all-time low.”

CGTA, which claims to represent around 90 per cent of the traders at New Covent Garden, said the move came as a last resort due to the “unwillingness” of the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) and its development partners  Vinci UK and St. Modwen (VSM) to “cooperate, consult and disclose information.” A particular flash-point has been the Southern Vehicle Car Park, which was closed off at the start of October; something which CGTA says has severely disrupted trading activity in the market as customers have been unable to park.

Gary Marshall said, “What they are considering building is simply not fit for purpose. Customers are openly writing to us to say they might have to go elsewhere because they can’t operate effectively from NCGM,” revealed Marshall. “If traders at NCGM can’t do the job, someone from New Spitalfields or Western will. It’s put business continuity at great risk.”

GGMA CEO Daniel Tomkinson said, “We regret that some of our valued tenants have seen fit to take this action, and we hope to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we will continue work on the much-needed development of the Fruit and Vegetable Market.”

Photo Credit: Wikimedia The post New Covent Garden traders take market to court appeared first on Hort News

Industry prepares for British Flowers Week

British Flowers week begins on 18 June and this year is supported by the Flower Market at New Covent Garden Market, Flowers from the Farm and the British Florist Association.

2018 marks the sixth year of the campaign, and events to celebrate the UK cut flower industry include a Farmer Florist exhibition at Ryedale Folk Museum in North Yorkshire, a ‘flower bomb’ of British blooms in Edinburgh’s Old Town, and six innovative installations at the Garden Museum.

Started by New Covent Garden Flower Market in 2013, British Flowers Week is an annual celebration of the wealth and variety of British cut flowers and foliage. Last year’s campaign saw over 35 British Flowers Week workshops, talks, pop-up shops and floral demonstrations taking place around the country. This year tools for florists include free gift tags and posters, as well as using the hashtag #BritishFlowersWeek to connect on social media channels.

Helen Evans, of New Covent Garden Market, commented, “British Flowers Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness of some of the people and businesses that continue to make the creativity and excellence in the British floristry industry second to none, with the industry worth £2.2 billion.”

Photo Caption: Veevers Carter are one of the florists producing an installation at the Garden Museum

Photo Credit: Veevers Carter

The post Industry prepares for British Flowers Week appeared first on Hort News on 14 June 2018.