INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT KING, BUYER AT NEW COVENT GARDEN MARKET

WHAT SKILLS DO YOU NEED AS A SUCCESSFUL BUYER?

First of all you’ve got to only buy the best you can find. Buy the right quantities and don’t overbuy. Be trustworthy - everyone knows me and has no qualms with me. You have to know how to get on with people and build up a good relationship with the wholesalers.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN YOUR JOB?

We are a high class fruit and veg company and supply the best restaurants and hotels. Some chefs want onions the size of golf balls. Or certain-sized carrots or beetroots. At the moment, one customer wants Japanese aubergines - long thin aubergines - and they have to be an exact size. Lately we have started to go Western International to source some of the more unusual lines.

WHAT’S YOUR DAILY ROUTINE?

I start at 11pm and finish about 8am in the morning. I like the fact that you get a bit of time to yourself in the afternoon. And it’s nice in the summer when the sun is shining.

WHEN DO YOU SLEEP?

I have two or three little slots of two hours sleep every day. I have done that all my life. It works for me - I feel good.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WORKED IN FRESH PRODUCE?

My dad had his own wholesale business in Stratford Market. I started off working for him as a cashier when I was about 20. Then we went over to Spitalfields and I aIso bought a shop in Romford which was successful. We ran it for 25 years. Then we branched into doing the restaurants - the catering side of it. Four years ago, this job came up with Marcus.