Pickfords Business Solutions recently worked with Covent Garden Flower Market to transport tens of thousands of plants, flowers and sundries to a new 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 with an extensive range of products for resale.
Following a number of recent, successful collaborations with the leading facilities management company, VINCI Facilities, Pickfords was appointed to manage this challenging relocation project.
A detailed six-week planning process was created to ensure minimum disruption to the commercial businesses during the transition. Pickfords created and executed a move plan to transfer each of the 40 wholesalers’ units on a precise time and date to ensure completion ahead of the new market opening.
VINCI 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. Pat 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 to ensure a successful relocation.
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. My thanks to our project team, VINCI and the Flower Market for all their hard work, ensuring this project was a complete success.”
Photo: Martin Budd (let) and Pat Hughes.