This Week in the Market – 6 November 2018

– Fresh Five talks to Michael Savvas
– Add your business to the City of Whittlesea supplier database
– Book a personalised phone call to learn more about ‘A Better Choice’

Market News

Parking after a public holiday

The Market is closed today, Tuesday 6 November, for the Melbourne Cup public holiday.
If your parking permit only allows access on a day where a public holiday falls, and you would like to come to the Market on an alternative adjacent day (for example your parking permit is for a Tuesday and you would like to access the Market on Wednesday 7 November), you will not be charged for parking and can enter the Market. However please note, your regular bay may not be available. Please see a Market Relations Officer on arrival for instruction.Access for warehouse remains unchanged, tenants have access to their warehouse 24 hours 7 days a week.

Fresh Five

This week we talk to Michael Savvas who has been working in the Market for several years but who recently started his own business.
1. Your role at the Melbourne Market: 
I’m the owner of Best Juices Co at stand 331. We sell the Milla’s brand of juice but we are also about to launch a new exciting brand of juice into the Market with juice lines like passion-fruit, banana, apricot, mango, lemon, lime and more. All the juices are 100% Australian owned and produced, and very well priced.  We’re here at stand 331 on a Thursday but buyers can always call me on 0497988563 if they have a specific need.
2. If you could only take three fruits or vegetables with you to a desert island, which would you take:
Mangoes, pineapple and an orange – and I’d juice them!
3. When was the last time you bought flowers for someone (or had them bought for you):
For my wife in June for our anniversary, I got her potted orchids, which last much longer, from here at the Market
4. Tell us something that is on your ‘bucket list’:
I want to see my children married and happy, I have two beautiful daughters.
5. What do you most enjoy about working at the Melbourne Market:
The people, it’s all about people in this place – I enjoy the environment.

Line marking on the buyers’ walk

Updated line marking will commence on the buyers’ walk this Friday 9 November after trade, and will be undertaken each weekend for the next eight weeks. The project will commence at Store 1 on Friday with works anticipated to make their way to Store 27 by Sunday morning.  An MMA team member will visit stores to talk to you about what you need to know before painting commences in the vicinity of your store.
For further information contact the Customer Service Centre on 9258 6123.

Industry News

City of Whittlesea supplier database

Add your business to the City of Whittlesea’s local supplier database.
If you are interested in supplying fruit and/or vegetables to the City of Whittlesea click here and simply complete a short form.
Your details can then be included on a new database that will be accessed by Council staff to help the City of Whittlesea to connect with businesses (especially local ones) that can assist with delivery of goods, works and services that benefit the community.
Inclusion on the database is also a great way to ensure you receive invitations to supplier events run by the City of Whittlesea.

Harvest to Home dashboard

The Harvest to Home dashboard has been updated with the latest retail data for Australian fresh vegetable purchases

• Cauliflower performed well in the wake of its popularity among consumers who are looking to improve their diets.
• The number of households buying baby cucumbers grew steadily over the past three years with dollar sales growing 44 per cent higher over the past year.
• Eggplant sales grew quickly, with dollar sales up seven per cent and volume sales (in kilograms) up 14.8 per cent. While the major supermarkets often dominate vegetable sales, when it comes to eggplant, majority of volume share is held by greengrocers, markets and specialty stores.

The data on the Harvest to Home dashboard, collected through Nielsen Homescan, represents a continuous panel of 10,000 households who record all take-home packed and fresh grocery purchases from all retail outlets. The sample is demographically and geographically representative of the Australian household population.
Access the dashboard by clicking here.

Hire locally

If you are looking to hire locally, post your vacancy on Melbourne’s North Job Link portal.  It’s free to post your job ads and connects you with local job seekers in Melbourne’s North.

Key Dates

Tuesday 6 November – Market closed for Melbourne Cup public holiday

Ask the MMA

If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.