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Animals at London Zoo were among the many customers of New Covent Garden Market celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic institution early yesterday morning (11/11).
While traders toasted the market’s milestone moment with fizz and cupcakes at the Nine Elms site, wildlife across the zoo in north London enjoyed a breakfast of high-quality fruit and vegetables provided by County Supplies, one of the fresh produce traders based at New Covent Garden Market.
Pygmy hippo Amara tucked into a pile of kale, lettuce, frisee lettuce and chicory, while Western lowland gorilla Alika enjoyed a selection of corn, peppers and aubergine. Gorillas Effie and baby Venus also fed on cabbage and yellow pepper.
New Covent Garden Market worked with London Zoo to capture the animals’ antics as part of the 50th celebrations of the market. By this morning, the images had been picked up by media around the globe.
National coverage included BBC News, The London Standard and The Independent, with multiple hits on news sites like MSN and Yahoo.
ITV News, BBC London and Associated Foreign Press (AFP) also visited the market to interview spokespeople and traders, including Gary Marshall, owner of New Covent Garden Market wholesaler Bevington Salads and Chairman of the New Covent Garden Tenants Association, and Wanda Goldwag OBE, the Chair of New Covent Garden Market Authority.
The media coverage highlighted the vast range of New Covent Garden Market’s customer base, with the Market’s 175 wholesale traders’ clients including everyone from luxury British institutions like Harrods, Claridge’s and the capital’s top Michelin starred restaurants, to the Royal Households and the animals of London Zoo.
County Supplies, which supplies London Zoo, shared its pride in being involved in the media drive to celebrate the market’s anniversary.
Robert Hurren, Founder & MD, County Supplies Ltd, said: “Since 2021, County Supplies has been incredibly proud to supply the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) with fresh produce for over 600 animals. We work closely with ZSL to ensure the animals receive food that is close to what they would naturally eat in the wild.
"Staying true to our core values of sustainability and service, all our produce is delivered in returnable crates to minimise waste, and we only supply the tastiest produce to keep the different animals well fed and entertained throughout the year."
He added: "This week, as we celebrate the 50th Golden Anniversary of New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) and a significant milestone in its history, we’re delighted to see the animals at ZSL London enjoying their latest early morning delivery of County Supplies’ fresh fruit and veg!”
Wanda Goldwag OBE, the Chair of New Covent Garden Market Authority, added: “It is fantastic to see our market’s name and County Supplies’ fantastic produce being featured around the world as we celebrate this milestone moment of New Covent Garden Market’s 50th anniversary.
“These images bring to life how New Covent Garden Market has been the beating heart of London’s food supply chain for 50 years.
“From the animals at London Zoo, to the highest-quality restaurants and hospitality businesses across the capital, providing the freshest produce to our vibrant city is so much more than a job for our wholesalers, it’s their passion and their livelihood. For many of them, it has also been a baton to pass on through generations.
“We’re incredibly proud to represent a diverse market with so much history, and our commitment to nurturing the market and supporting the communities it serves has never been stronger."
