Covent Garden Market Authority and the Tenants’ Association welcomed today’s decision by the House of Lords to allow, for the first time, over-the-counter trading of meat and fish by trade buyers at New Covent Garden Market.

The Lords rejected the Corporation of London’s opposition to the move.

Baroness Dean, Chairman of Covent Garden Market Authority, said:

“This is an important breakthrough for London’s thriving restaurants, caterers and food retailers who have, until now, been prevented from directly choosing all their own purchases. For the first time it will allow over the counter trading of meat and fish to trade customers at New Covent Garden Market.

The decision by the highest court in the land will greatly assist in enhancing London’s reputation for first class, high quality cuisine and catering. With the Olympics in London this will become even more important.

The Authority always believed that the Government’s original decision to allow face-to-face trading of meat and fish at New Covent Garden Market was correct. This decision had been challenged and it is a relief to be able to put the distractions – and costly delay – of this case behind us.”

New Covent Garden Market is the leading wholesale market for fresh food and flowers and the leading centre for specialist catering in Greater London. There are some 250 companies at the site employing over 2,500 people. Its annual turnover is in excess of £500 million.

Covent Garden Market Authority is a statutory corporation responsible for running New Covent Garden Market at Nine Elms and recorded £1.4 million profit on ordinary activities in the year ended March 2005. It owns and manages the freehold of the 56 acre site at Nine Elms to which the old Covent Garden Market moved in 1974 from its original home at London WC2.

For more information please contact:
Helen Evans 020 7720 2211 or 07710 327427
info@cgma.gov.uk
www.cgma.gov.uk