New northern food hub in Bradford to outmatch St James Wholesale Market

In the United Kingdom, Bradford Council has signed an ‘Option to Purchase’ unused former landfill land at Staithgate Lane to construct a new bigger and greener northern food hub instead of its current St James Wholesale Market.

Today, Bradford’s St James Market is the largest wholesale market in the North East, which means the council can develop a new more accessible modern and larger wholesale market which would provide more jobs and strengthen the food distribution network of the region.

The land at its current location is at maximum: the wholesale market is fully let. The new site will attract new businesses and satisfy the demand from existing businesses for expansion.

Today, the market is composed of 30 small and medium size businesses and generates about £50 million (56.9 million euros) turnover annually, providing employment for more than 400 people, supplying HoReCa, supermarkets and market stalls.

Now, the council is able to transform the St James business from the traditional wholesale market to a massive food distribution center. 

The new market will be located close to the major northern transport links. The fresh and processed foods including fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, bakery and flowers will be commercialized there.

The new location and a modern operating model provide opportunities to create a more sustainable facility, decreasing emissions and waste related to the facilities and transportation of goods, enabling a streamlined supply chain removing cars from the residential areas and city center.