A Day in the Life…

IT IS 7.30am on a bright but breezy weekday morning as I arrive at Woolwich Market, a place that’s been on my radar for some time. My job as a Bakers Basco investigator is simple in theory but complex in reality: track down and recover our missing bread baskets and dollies, educate businesses on correct use and work with local authorities to keep our kit where it belongs. In practice, it often means long days, challenging conversations and plenty of walking, but it’s work I take pride in.

When I first set foot in Woolwich Market some months ago, the scale of the problem was obvious. Misuse of our equipment was widespread and, from what I was told, had been going on for years. My initial investigations uncovered several key suppliers, all long-time offenders when it came to misusing our kit.

That day, I issued eight Notices to Desist (NTDs) to businesses operating on the market, explaining clearly that, even if their suppliers delivered our baskets, they couldn’t simply use them for their own purposes without consequence. Many traders were quite surprised, some had been using our equipment for years without realising, while others assumed it belonged to their suppliers, most of whom shouldn’t have been using it either. By the time I left, I had uplifted 153 Allied Bakeries Baskets, 17 Omega Baskets and 1 Omega Dolly from a mix of market stalls and food stores.

Fast forward to today, and I’m back – this time with the Markets & Street Trading Inspector, Royal Borough of Greenwich by my side. Following my earlier visit, the council took decisive action, changing borough-wide market rules to prohibit the misuse of bakery equipment. The difference is remarkable. I revisit all the businesses that previously received NTDs and not a single one is now using our kit. Traders tell me they’re now actively pushing back on suppliers who try to deliver in our equipment.

The inspector’s comments that day were extremely encouraging, saying: “Since working with Bakers Basco, we’ve seen a real step-change across Woolwich Market. The introduction of the new rules has helped ensure traders are clear on their responsibilities, and it’s been great to see how quickly compliance has improved.”

For me, this just confirmed what can be achieved when local authorities and industry come together with a shared goal.

It’s a great feeling when the effort pays off. Working with the council has been key and having their support on site means no arguments, no pushback, just cooperation. Seeing the rules changed for an entire borough gives me fresh motivation to target other markets, knowing I’ve got both local authority backing and a clear framework to enforce.

Of course, not every visit runs as smoothly. Some people can be difficult to speak to or are unwilling to give kit back at first. I’ve learned the best approach is always to remain professional and friendly, even when dealing with repeat offenders. Where necessary, we’ll escalate – issuing further charges or taking legal action to put a stop to the misuse. Over time, this persistence makes a difference. In areas I’ve visited multiple times, I’ve seen shops and stalls cleared of our equipment and others now actively refusing deliveries in our baskets. That kind of progress keeps me motivated.

And Woolwich isn’t the only success. Every week, I’m out visiting new areas – marketplaces, events, even festivals – checking for our equipment and speaking to businesses about correct use. I make a point of returning at different times to see if the message has stuck. Often, I’ll find businesses have changed their ways, which is encouraging. I also work closely with my colleagues across the country, because many of the suppliers we encounter are operating far beyond a single borough. We share intelligence and coordinate efforts, and it’s clear the word is spreading: more and more businesses tell me they already know about Bakers Basco and the work we’re doing before I even start the conversation.

In this job, there are always new challenges – different markets, new faces and sometimes tough conversations. But days like today, when teamwork and persistence deliver real change, make it all worthwhile.