Flower Power - Covent Garden Goes to Nine Elms

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• Flower Power - Covent Garden Goes to Nine Elms

08 May 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

Pickfords Business Solutions recently worked with Covent Garden Flower Market to transport tens of thousands of plants, flowers and sundries to a new Flower Market location in Nine Elms.

Covent Garden Flower Market is the largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK and  supplies 75% of London’s florists.

A detailed six week planning process was created to ensure  minimum disruption to their trading and commercial businesses during the transition.   Pickfords created and executed a move plan to transfer each of the 40 wholesaler’s units on a precise time and date to ensure completion ahead of the new market opening.

Vinci Facilities (which work for the market) engaged Pat Hughes from Pickfords Business Solutions to create the methodology and move plan to move racking, equipment and stock to the new market location over a three day period.  Hughes ensured that his highest priority was understanding the individual concerns and business practices of each of the wholesalers. He held weekly meetings with the wholesalers to construct a plan to ensure that disruption was minimised. 

Up to 110 Pickfords crew members and 17 vehicles worked on site each day. Tailored move plans were created for plants of unusual size or shape to protect against damage, including the use of specially made trolleys for certain exotic species.

Martin Budd, Head of Business Solutions at Pickfords, said: “It was a pleasure to be part of the relocation of the market and to be there to hear them ring the bell to close the market for the last time after 40 years." 

Pictured: A Pickfords crew member

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 08 May 2017

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