130 years ago, Kate Leonard set up her stand in the Dublin wholesale market. This was in 1892 when Ireland was still part of the UK and women didn’t get to vote.
Kate had been selling produce in the area on where the Dublin wholesale market was built which is probably why she got a pitch on the market. The construction of the market started in February 1892 and was completed in December of the same year. The building was based on plans from the old Covent Garden Market in London and the structure was made from steel from Birmingham, it was very much in the Victorian era.
!30 years on Justin Leonard, Kate’s great grandson still sells fresh produce from a site just next to where the original market was situated.
Justin’s grandfather Jack, came into the business in 1925 and his father Jackie (little Jack) and his brothers took it over in 1982. The business was renamed Jackie Leonard & Sons when the brothers retired in 1982.
Justin has grown up in the trade, as he helped his father out in the school holidays and finally after a summer at the market started full time in 1986. Justin’s father had bought the old schoolhouse next to the market in 1990 to use a warehouse, it was the school which he had attended as a boy.
The wholesale market closed four years ago, so when it closed Justin already had a place to trade from, some of the other traders also set up next to the old market while some moved out closer to Dublin airport.
Justin said that at one point there were 57 traders in the market, now 10 are still in the wholesale fruit and veg trade.
When asked what was behind the success of the business Justin said:
“My father always said ‘Mind your own business and you will have a business to own’. We have always looked at what people want and tried to provide it. My grandfather only sold potatoes, then my father added fruit and vegetables. When I took over, I started to supply the food service trade. Our ethos has always been Quality Value Service which has stood us well over the years.
“Not everyone wants to deal with the big multi-nationals, some like a local trader with personal service. We love what we do, its not a job it’s a vocation.”
Justin has two sons, but he is not sure if they follow him in the family business. “They are both in college, but come in at 4am to help me out then head out at 9am. I don’t know if either of them will join the family business though.”
For more information:
Justin Leonard
Jackie Leonard & Sons Ltd.
Tel +353.1.873.3055
Mob +353.86.867.4760
Email: justin@jackieleonards.ie
www.justinleonard.net