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Wholesale Markets in London

Despite the criticisms of British cuisine, food is big business and nowhere is it bigger than in London. For in London, there is still a substantial number of people who will by the contents of their fridge from independent retailers and market traders. Also with the boom in ‘eating-out’ over the last fifteen years, there has been a massive demand for food sources beyond the supermarket supplier. After all, a restauranteur in Wapping cannot wait in line for a 10lbs of Sea Bass nor does a the owner of a Vietnamese Food Store want ‘2 for 1’ on Sesame Oil.

Welcome to the world of the wholesale market. London has six of them. The most famous is Borough market, by London Bridge. However, the market that most tourists walk through is a ‘Cinderella Version; with olives served in wooden vats. The real wholesalers are ‘early birds’ usually trading from 2am and finishing when everyone else is getting up. The other grand markets are New Spitalfields, New Covent Garden, Western International (Produce), Billingsgate (Fish) and Smithfield (Meat). A visit to any of these markets at hours more suited to Nightclubs will reveal a labyrinth of life. Of loud voices and large bundles of cash exchanging hands. Boxes of goods, flung through the air and fork lift trucks speeding to and fro. And everywhere you go, there is an array of food to feast the senses. Eat your heart out, Asda.

Yes, these are wholesale markets. The term is so strange to anyone unacquainted. Basically this means buying in bulk and cash only, but anyone can attend. Wholesales are not limited to white vans and the proprietors of Michelin Reviewed Eateries. The wholesale market is a wonderful place to explore what food really means, real food, the smells, the icky bits and the roughness that comes with the trade. A world apart from the freezer section in the supermarket.