The UK’s largest inland market, Billingsgate Market, which sells 25,000 tonnes of fish and fish products per year, is set for improvements totalling £4 million during the next 12-18 months, reports Andrew Martin.
First up is a new roof to cover the complete premises plus a new ceiling for the trading hall. Following that, extra storage and order picking premises for the merchants will be built.
The market, which has an annual turnover of £200m, has already gone through a transformation of its working practices. The union porters, which were the only staff allowed to move boxes of fish at the market, had their licences withdrawn at the beginning of this year and this was followed by the merchants buying out their contracts at the end of April.
Existing merchants then took up stands which had remained vacant so the trading hall is full for business once more.
Furthermore a Billingsgate Market Code of Practice has been drawn up for both the market authorities and individual traders to follow. This will ensure that Billingsgate remains ahead of any forthcoming EU legislation.
