Wholesale market excites but traders say location disappoints

FRUIT, vegetable and flower traders are settling in to Melbourne Market’s quieter, lighter, cleaner surrounds but doubts remain about the location.

Anthony Santospirito is a fourth generation flower wholesaler with Santospirito Flowers. Picture: Josie Hayden

WHOLESALE fruit, vegetable and flower traders are settling in to their quieter, lighter and cleaner surrounds in Epping.

But they still have doubts about the new location.

After more than 10 years of planning and five years of construction, trading began at Melbourne Market on the aptly named Produce Drive, off Cooper St, at 3.30am on Monday.

The Whittlesea Leader was invited to tour the facility this morning and spoke to traders while seeing the market in action.

The 70 hectare site offers the potential for 120,000sq m of space compared to 33,000sq m at its former 45-year-old West Melbourne warehouse.

It’s clear safety is a priority at the site, with dedicated forklift paths and pedestrian walkways keeping the space functioning smoothly.

While there has been controversy surrounding the move most of the wholesalers, growers, buyers and transport operators the Whittlesea Leader spoke to were positive about the new market.

The well-lit store section of the new Melbourne Market in Epping. Pictures: Josie Hayden

Left, Simon Maugeri and Matthew Alabakis from BRP Wholesalers. Picture: Josie Hayden

Tiger supporter Harry Kapiris from Kapiris Bros. Picture: Josie Hayden

Traders at the fruit and vegetable section. Picture: Josie Hayden

Peter Tran from Produce of Virginia. Picture: Josie Hayden

Steve McArthur, chairman, and Mark Maskiell, CEO of Melbourne Markets in the store section. Picture: Josie Hayden

The flower market section at the new wholesale market. Picture: Josie Hayden

Bill Malaku from Five Ways Flowers. Picture: Josie Hayden

Sali Besim from Besim Orchards in Kyabram.

President of Fresh Markets Australia Shane Schnitzler in the store section of the new Melbourne Market. Pictures: Josie Hayden

Fruit and vegetable stands at the new Melbourne wholesale market. Pictures: Josie Hayden

Matthew Alabakis, owner of BRP Wholesalers, said the market was clean, spacious and provided plenty of room for business growth.

Mr Alabakis travels from Port Melbourne to the Epping site at 11.30pm each market day before returning to his farms in Werribee during the day.

“(Epping) is only another 20 minutes; it doesn’t bother me, I’m happy to drive that extra distance to get to work,” Mr Alabakis said.

“It’ll take us a little while to get our systems in place but once we do it’s going to be perfect.

“Some people just don’t like change, they’re scared of change — we’ve embraced it and are looking to the future.”

Fresh Market Australia Chamber of Commerce president Shane Schnitzler, who is also director of Produce Time, said feedback from traders had been positive but the market’s location was a disadvantage.

“Logistically it’s really difficult to get back across to the south eastern suburbs,” Mr Schnitzler said.

“Most of our major clients, 65 per cent of the fruit and vegetable industry, operate in the south eastern corridor so there are some challenges.

“We can only hope that the State Government at some point will help us and make the road system a lot more efficient.”

Mr Schnitzler said the market’s layout was “logistically a nightmare”.

“We’ve just got to get our heads around how long it takes to deliver and get a bit more efficient,” he said.

“In a month it’ll be a lot different.”

During the tour it was mentioned the Melbourne Market Authority was fielding at least 50 inquiries a day about whether the market would be open to the general public.

But Mark Maskiell, the authority’s executive officer, said it would be unlikely.

“They’d be undermining the local green grocers,” Mr Maskiell said.

“Whether we do a different market on a Saturday off the back of the flower market in some way shape or form, they’re some of the ideas we’ve been having.”

Public tours of the market are available.

Details: melbournemarkets.com.au