How we work
How the Market’s values guide the way we work
Choosing our traders
We select our traders on the quality of their food and the way they go about their work. Our Food Policy sets out a clear set of principles, covering topics such as quality, sustainability, animal welfare, and accessibility. We expect our traders to pay fair prices to their suppliers and fair pay to their staff and demonstrate their commitment to equality and diversity.
Tackling food waste
We are committed to reducing food waste. Throughout the week, Plan Zheroes volunteers collect surplus food from our traders. This food, no longer perfect but still good to eat, is given to local charities to help feed vulnerable people in our community. Since 2014, we’ve prevented more than 115 tonnes of food from being thrown away – enough for more than 250,000 meals.
Working with children
We want children of all ages to learn about produce, cooking and trading. Through our partnership with School Food Matters, children from hundreds of London schools have grown their own fruit and veg and sold it at the Market or produced and sold soup made from surplus produce. We also work with local organisations to support careers training for 16-19-year-olds
Minimising our impact
We work hard to minimise our environmental impact. None of our waste is sent to landfill and we recycle as much as we can, always looking to make improvements where possible. We buy bio-degradable bags to avoid the use of single-use plastic carrier bags and our water fountains prevent the use of hundreds of single-use plastic bottles every day.
Living Wage Employer
We’re proud to be accredited as a Living Wage Employer. The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 14,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.
INVESTORS IN DIVERSITY
We are working towards the Investors in Diversity Bronze accreditation. This is a national standard that helps to promote and deliver equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, so every individual can feel a sense of belonging and be empowered to achieve their full potential.