Glasgow fruit and vegetable market fire to disrupt local businesses
Staff Writer |
A huge fire at a Glasgow fruit and vegetable market will hit local restaurants, flower shops and cafes, an industry chief has predicted.
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Willie Macleod, executive director of the British Hospitality Association, said many retailers "relied on daily deliveries" from Blochairn.
Macleod said suppliers at the market were sure to be "resilient" but that businesses would be impacted.
Macleod told the BBC: "The impact on the market - short and medium-term - is not yet clear, it's unlikely that normal operations will be possible for the immediate or foreseeable future.
"Any disruption to supplies of fresh produce will have an impact on hospitality businesses and caterers, as well as retailers - many of whom rely on daily deliveries."
Mr Macleod said that in the immediate term, menus were likely to be adjusted and, in some cases, fresh produce would be substituted by frozen items.
Maureen Brogan, from traders J&P Brogan, said her units survived the fire but all traders will now need to “try and help each other”.
“Thank God no-one has been injured, that is number one. We are actually one of the lucky ones, our units have not been touched.
“There are people who literally have nothing left and there will be people wondering if they have a job left. I genuinely feel for the other traders who have woken up to nothing.”
Glasgow North East MP Paul Sweeney said the market is vital to the area.
“The Blochairn Fruit Market employs over 400 people and provides produce for retailers and restaurants right across the west of Scotland,” he said.
“It is a key part of our economy, turning over £250 million worth of produce a year.
“I will be working closely with Glasgow City Council and City Property to ensure we protect the employees and traders and try to find temporary accommodation nearby for the businesses which have lost their premises." ■
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