APPENDIX A

Sizing the Market

The following process based on Tracey-Whites

Retail

Markets Planning Guide published by FAO. This section

outlines the methods which can be used to estimate the
potential throughput of a market and how this key
characteristic is applied to predict floor space and site
area requirements. There is a difference in approach between
pure retail markets in which wet markets fall into, whether
urban or rural, and those markets that also fulfil an
assembly or wholesaling function.
Retail markets: household consumption
The first step in the design process requires a review
to be made of existing consumption data, which is normally
expressed as an annual average consumption for individual
food items on a per caput (per head) basis, e.g 100 kg. of
potatoes per caput. These data are often available from
nutrition surveys.

Per caput consumption of

fruits and vegetables ( in
kilos)
x
Urban population
x
Individual market's
percentage share of the
overall retail trade divided
by 1000 (to convert to tons)
=

Figure 1: Calculation of the

Present throughput

future throughput of a

retail market
Source: Tracey-White, Retail Markets Planning Guide,FAO
Agricultural Services Bulletin 121

An illustration of the calculation that will need to be

undertaken to obtain the approximate throughput of a local
assembly market is shown in figure_.
Given the usual paucity of data and the complex
interplay of factors, methods for forecasting future demand
should be as simple and robust as possible. The most
practical technique is usually to employ a high and low-case

scenario based on the best information that is available.

For example, a low-case scenario could assume that demand
will grow only at the same pace as population and a high
case assume that incomes will also grow. On that basis, the
urban consumption can be projected. The method is
illustrated in table_.
Table _: Calculation of the future throughput of a
retail market
METHOD

EXAMPLE

Approximate annual throughput

(5 year projection)
Assume per caput
Consumption
of 180 kg. Per caput

divided by

divided by

1,000 (to convert to tons)

1,000 (to convert of

tons)

times

times

Urban population x growth (growth

rate as a Decimal number
Population of say 10,00 x 4% growth
rate i.e. 1.04

x 1.04 x 1.04 x 1.04

x 1.04

plus 1.0)
=

Total urban consumption (tons)

Consumption of 2,190
tons

times

Times

Individual market's projected future

% share of the overall

Share of say 60%

(i.e. x 0.6)

retail trade
=

Future throughput

Future throughput of
1,314 tons

Source: Tracey-White, Retail Markets Planning Guide,FAO

Agricultural Services Bulletin 121
Turnover projections and floor space requirements
On the basis of these projections the next question
that should be addressed is whether the present market can
cope with any increased trade in terms of its building
floor space (sales area and other uses) and site
requirements (assuming that the market will continue to
play the same role in the future and will maintain its
overall share of retail trade as at present).
These standards are based on empirical data on the
relationship between space requirements and the gross
annual turnover. The standards include space for sales and
general internal circulation as well as a contingency
allowance for daily (and to some extent seasonal)
fluctuations in space requirements. The figures also assume

an average mix of produce, with fruit and vegetable sales

predominating. If a market specialises in a particular
commodity, some adjustment to these figures may be
necessary. An appropriate range of values that can be used
for projections is shown in table _.
Table_. Annual throughput per market type
Type of market

Annual throughput

Rural fruit and vegetable open

average 5 tons per

market

m/p.a.

Rural fruit and vegetable all-year

15- 20 tons per

assembly market

m/p.a.

Seasonal assembly market (assuming

20- 25 tons per

3 month peak)

m/p.a.

Urban fruit and vegetable open

5-10 tons per m/p.a.

market
Urban fruit and vegetable covered

15- 20 tons per

market

m/p.a.

Combined urban market (fruit,

10- 15 tons per

vegetables, fish, meat)

m/p.a.

Specialised fruit market (with

20- 25 tons per

fruit in packed cases)

m/p.a.

Specialised covered fish, poultry,

5-15 tons per m/p.a.

egg or meat market

Specialised retail grain, potato or

10-15 tons per m/p.a.

onion market
Source: Tracey-White, Retail Markets Planning Guide,FAO
Agricultural Services Bulletin 121
After ascertaining the sales area required, other areas
may now be added in order to come up with the overall area
of the market.
Materials
In general, the materials used for market construction
are those conventionally adopted for other simple building
types such as industrial and farm buildings, i.e. steel or
timber roof structures, and roofs and walls clad in
profiled steel sheeting with, in some cases, load-bearing
walls in concrete blocks or brickwork. The choice of
construction technology will depend on a range of factors,
including whether indigenous materials are available and
what methods of construction might be appropriate (TraceyWhite, 2009).
Use of colour in markets
The general appearance of a market is an important
issue as it will depend on this feature to attract

customers. There is a clear need to choose the colours so

that they promote the appeal of the products. In general,
paler materials are preferred as they reflect light,
providing brighter surroundings, and suggest hygienic
conditions. The use of colour will depend on the type of
produce being sold and the following colours are usually
adopted, particularly for the walls dividing sales outlets
(Tracey-White, 2009).
Principles of market stall design
The basic module from which the design of any market
is based is the individual market stall. Different stall
designs will be required to reflect the different goods
being sold - although these variations can be provided
within a standard enclosure.
It is also important than the stalls selling similar
products are grouped together. This is partly for the
convenience of the customers, particularly so prices can
easily be compared, but there are other reasons, one is the
need for the sanitary segregation of fresh produce stalls
from meat, fish and poultry stalls, particularly so that
the area for the latter can be easily cleaned and the
disposal of waste controlled.

Another is the requirement for physical segregation of

fruit stalls from flower stalls so that the natural
ethylene gas produced by the fruits does not damage the
flowers(Tracey-White, 2009).
Meat and fish stalls
Although fresh fruits and vegetables may make up the
majority of the food-related stalls, facilities for
butchers and fishmongers are also likely to be important.
Larger traders in meat or fish are likely to require
separate premises and Figure 58 shows a section through a
fishmonger's stall in a covered market, illustrating the
importance of ventilation and of facilities for effectively
washing down the stall area (Tracey-White, 2009).
Poultry and egg marketing
Poultry sections of markets, including areas for the
sale of chickens, ducks and geese, have their own unique
design requirements. The main distinction will be whether
the poultry is sold live or already slaughtered. In the
latter case, the sales facility will not be visibly much
different from that used for fresh meat or fish, except
that using hanging rails for display of the dressed birds
will be preferred. For live birds, which have the distinct

advantage over pre-killed birds in that they do not have to

be disposed of by the end of the working day, there are two
basic modes of sale. Firstly, the poultry can be bought
live (i.e. for slaughter at home) or it can be slaughtered
and plucked (de-feathered) in the market on demand, in
which case special slaughter facilities will need to
provided, This usually requires a shackle for hanging the
birds and hot water for scalding carcasses (Tracey-White,
2009).
Storage
Security and the related issue of overnight storage of
unsold produce is a difficult question in market design.
With street markets it is obviously unreasonable to expect
that goods can be left in the market, although in many
cases special lock-up facilities are provided, either for
the traders' barrows or for the produce. In fenced-in or
covered markets most retailers would obviously prefer to
have secure facilities. A simple lockable cupboard under a
stall is often sufficient. The next levels of complexity
are stalls which can be closed off with pull-down shutters.
To satisfy major traders some lock-up retail shop units are
also often included within the market area, either as
separate buildings or integrated into a covered market

(Tracey-White, 2009).
Market infrastructure
This section broadly reviews some of the typical
market infrastructure design problems and the solutions
that are used in terms of materials, construction methods
and standards. Overall infrastructure standards are
summarised in table_.
Table_:Typical market infrastructure standards, FAO
Infrastructure standard

dimensions

single lane road width:

3.5 metres

one-way road width:

7 metres

two-way road width:

12 metres

size of car parking areas:

4.8 x 2.4 metres

visitors' car parking:

2 - 5 spaces per 100 m

of sale area

visitors' car parking:

preferred
maximum
distance from market:
100 metres (absolute
maximum
distance
at
peak
periods
200
metres)

size of pick-up parking areas:

8 x 3.65 metres

size of truck parking areas:

11 x 3.65 metres

parking for traders and delivery

vehicles:

one or two per

four stalls (in a
highly
motorized
society: equal to
the
number
of
stalls)

sidewalk widths:

2.5 metres minimum (5.2

metres
if
roadside
stalls
are
to
be
accommodated)

water supply standpipes or tube

wells

maximum distance
of 50 metres from
users (25 metres
preferred)

meat and fish stalls

immediate
access
to
water
supply
(i.e.
adjacent)

latrines and urinals

maximum distance of
100 metres from users
(50 metres preferred)

dustbins or garbage pits

maximum distance of 50

metres from users (25

metres preferred)

lamp standards

spaced at an interval
of 15 to 25 metres

Source: Tracey-White, Retail Markets Planning Guide,FAO

Agricultural Services Bulletin 121
Site landscaping and outdoor seating
A small part of the development budget should be set
aside to provide facilities that will make the market more
comfortable for the users. Advantage should be taken of
existing shade trees and new trees planted wherever
possible. The trees should be protected 'from damage by
tree guards, typically a low wall or a cast-iron grating
surrounding the tree. Other forms of site landscaping
should only be introduced if it is possible to maintain
them.
For larger markets outdoor seating is often provided.
This needs to be located to take account of both views and
climate, which means that seats should face into the
activities of the market and be climatically appropriate,
i.e. shaded in hot climates, protected from wind, or face
into the sun in cooler climates. Low walls (a minimum 400 mm

in height and 300 to 500 mm deep) are an economic means of

providing seating.
Cool storage
In some circumstances, particularly in covered retail
markets handling fresh meat, poultry and fish, the use of
cool stores is appropriate. Care should be taken to ensure
that such facilities are not too large and that they can
be run on a self-financing basis. Ideally, these stores
should be the property of the traders themselves (e.g. an
individual butcher or fishmonger) and come under their
direct management. A possible way of accommodating cool
storage is to make provision for electrical outlets on a
metered supply where the trader can plug in a small-scale
domestic refrigerator or freezer (Tracey-White, 2009).
Solid waste collection
The collection and disposal of solid waste from the
market always needs special consideration. Poor solid waste
management measures (including site cleansing) can result in
a build up of refuse and rodent/insect infestation. Solid
waste at most retail markets is mostly organic and
sophisticated disposal systems using, for example, on-site
compactors are generally not financially viable.

The method often adopted for the organization of solid

waste in markets is to arrange for it to be taken (by
cleaners and/or the traders themselves) to a central
location, such as a walled enclosure, from where it is reloaded onto refuse collection vehicles. It is usually very
difficult to keep these facilities clean, particularly as
the refuse is double-handled.
A more satisfactory method is the use of a container
(skip) system, using receptacles manufactured from sheet
steel, which are relatively easy to clean. Skips can be as
small as 2 to 3 m, but the normal standard skip holds
around 7 m of vegetable waste. A market with an annual
throughput of 10,000 tons (i.e. around 28 tons per day)
would produce a daily amount of solid waste of around 1.4
tons, requiring a daily skip collection service.