Baroness Brenda Dean has accepted a second three year term as Chairman of Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA). The new term starts on 1 April 2008 and over the next three years Brenda Dean will steer the Authority towards the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market to secure its long term future.
CGMA is responsible to Defra for the ownership and operation of the Market – the largest fresh produce market in the UK. The appointment was made by Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food and Animal Welfare and demonstrates the Government’s confidence in the leadership of the Market.
Based in Vauxhall, south London, New Covent Garden Market is of huge importance to London and the UK, supplying fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants along with other catering needs. In 2006 with the support of Defra, Brenda Dean announced the start of a two year programme to agree how to replace the Market’s 30 year old infrastructure with fresh, modern facilities. The redevelopment programme has, over the last 18 months, made great progress and CGMA are currently working on the redevelopment business case to present to Treasury this spring.
Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food, and Animal Welfare said:
“Baroness Dean’s enormous energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the Market have allowed it to move from strength to strength in the three years she has been Chair. Her vision for the Authority and the business, have positioned the Market where it is today and have put it in the best possible position as the proposals for redevelopment progress The department is thrilled that Baroness Dean has accepted our offer and we look forward to seeing the redevelopment project move forward under Baroness Dean’s leadership.”
Alongside Brenda Dean’s reappointment Jan Lloyd, Chief Executive of Covent Garden Market Authority, has a newly negotiated contract that sees her committed to the Market over the next critical stages of the redevelopment project including the appointment of a private development partner.
Jan has been Chief Executive at the Market since 2005 and has over the last three years led the reorganisation of the Authority’s structures, systems and culture resulting in both a strong financial performance and the highest tenant occupancy levels for many years. She has also developed strong relations with the market community and through these introduced a move to a more customer service focused approach to running the Market as well as raising the wider profile of the Market amongst its external stakeholders.
Together with Brenda Dean, Jan’s appointment will ensure a continuity of leadership for both the Market and the Authority over the coming years.
Baroness Brenda Dean, Chairman of Covent Garden Market Authority said:
“I was honoured to be invited to serve another term and it is with great excitement that I have accepted this reappointment. The last three years have seen a great deal of progress for the Market and the Authority and I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to understand and oversee this fascinating business and organisation.
“I am also delighted that Jan will also remain in her role so that we can build on the stability we have created over the last three years of working together. Along with other members of the Board and staff of CGMA we are committed to seeing this redevelopment project through and to ensure we provide a new modern Market for our tenants and their customers.”
For more information contact:
Helen Evans, CGMA, 020 7501 3487 helen.evans@cgma.gov.uk
Jonny Popper / Suzi Lawrence, London Communications Agency, 020 7612 8480
Notes to editors:
About the redevelopment project
In September 2006 CGMA announced the start of a two year programme to agree how to replace its 30 year old infrastructure with fresh, modern facilities.
Launched by Rooker, Food & Farming Minister, the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market is being led by CGMA with full Defra and Government support.
Initial tenant consultation and design conception has taken place to establish a base case model for the Market. This has been tested in summer 2007 and established as financially and functionally viable.
CGMA recognises that private sector involvement will be needed to improve both the financials and to optimise the design and use of the site. CGMA remain open as to how this will work.
Further work is now underway to establish a design brief, secure agreement with planning authorities and procure a development partner.
About New Covent Garden Market (NCGM)
NCGM is the largest fresh produce market in the UK. It plays a vital role in supplying London’s hospitality and food service sectors with fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers.
NCGM annual turnover is some £560 million. Split between the different trading areas this is:
· £160 million fruit & vegetable wholesale
· £146 million wholesale distribution
· £ 56 million flower wholesale
· £ 83 million other food activity
· £115 million (estimated) importer, agents and other services
Over 350 varieties of fruit and vegetables are sold along with flowers and foliage from around the world and customers include leading chefs, restaurants and hotels in London and throughout the UK. Over 2,500 people are employed here and the central location provides ready access to the West End, City and all parts of the Capital. New Covent Garden Market has over 800 years of history and has been located at Vauxhall since 1974.
About Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA)
CGMA is a statutory corporation responsible to Defra for running New Covent Garden Market and made a £545,000 pre-tax surplus for the year ended 31st March 2007.
CGMA is responsible to Defra for the ownership and operation of New Covent Garden Market. It is Defra’s stated objective to transfer control of the Market from the Authority into new ownership to provide a basis for the commercial operation of the Market independent of Defra.
This will only be possible with legislation which has been postponed until after the redevelopment project.
About Defra
Defra’s (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) overarching purpose is to enable everyone to live within our environmental means. Central to achieving this will be reducing the environmental impact of the lifestyles we lead, the products that the country’s economy produces and consumes, and the waste we produce. We also need to reduce the global impact of our food production and consumption, improving the contribution that a profitable and competitive farming industry in this country can make to our environment.