A wholesale market is a market where goods are sold in large quantities to a retailer who will then resale them to customers.

There are many different types of wholesale markets, selling a range of items, from food such as fruit vegetables meat and fish, to books, fabrics and flowers.

Around the world some wholesale markets have become popular because of the quantities of products that they sell the quality of the goods they sell or just their historical context, which many wholesale markets are famous for.

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo’s fish market in metropolitan Tokyo is the largest fish market in the world with over 900 wholesalers operating within the market. The inner market is where the auctions take place and is the licensed wholesale area. The outer market houses more wholesale stalls alongside retail outlets and restaurants, particularly sushi restaurants.

The market which operates daily from 3am and opens at 5am, is a popular Tokyo tourist attraction.

It deals in 2000 tons of every type of fish and seafood imaginable every day, except Sundays; and a particular favourite spectacle is the unloading of tons of frozen tuna, straight from the trawlers.

Wholesale Fabric Market, New York, USA

More of an area within the city than a market, but essentially acting on the same principle as a wholesale market, is New York’s Garment District in midtown Manhattan. This where major US fashion labels operate, designing, making and producing clothing, then wholesaling clothes and materials to industry retailers.

Biannual New York fashion week in September and February brings millions of dollars of revenue to the fashion markets, and New York itself, and is what keeps this historical district alive.

Smithfield Market, London, UK

Smithfield Market is the last surviving wholesale market in central London and was the city’s main livestock market for nearly 100 years. It is still a wholesale meat market and is housed in a Grade II listed structure designed Sir Thomas Bennett, after the original building by Victorian Architect Sir Horace Jones was destroyed by fire in the 1950’s.

The purpose of the market is strictly business with its aim to provide fresh meat to the butchers, restaurants and shops of central London for the coming day.

It starts business at 4am and is usually closed by noon, although the area has become popular as a nightlife destination in recent years so is busy 24 hours a day.

The Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The canals of Amsterdam are home to a very unusual market called The Bloemenmarkt. The Bloemenmarkt retails wholesale and non-wholesale goods, and it is the world’s only floating flower market. There are numerous stalls selling fresh flowers, plants and gardening goods, and as it is now a major tourist attraction, it also has the usual souvenir shops and stalls.

It was founded in 1862, and is located on Singel canal between Muntplein and Koningsplein in the city's southern canal belt.