Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Mayor and Tajani: "We are betting on the relaunch of places that are the very essence of the neighborhoods, in terms of history, function and sociality." In the coming months the markets of Wagner, Morsenchio and Ferrara will also come back to life

Milan, July 25 2019 – New life for the covered municipal market of Zara, in Piazzale Lagosta, a reality that is renewed and returns to the center of the commercial and social life of the neighborhood. The new face that the covered market will take on was presented this morning at the historic structure in the center of the Isola district. Illustrating the contents of the project were Mayor Giuseppe Sala together with the Councilor for Labor Policies, Productive Activities and Commerce Cristina Tajani with Bruno Mazzoleni, President of Serim, which through its subsidiary Mediolana S.r.l. will be the new sole manager of the facility for the next twenty years.

Approximately nine months of work is expected, starting from next October, which will lead to the total renewal of the market and, once completed in June 2020, will allow us to have a multifunctional structure capable of combining normal sales activities with those of administration and transformation of food and drinks, as well as the presence of spaces, both internal and external, to permanently carry out cultural, training and information activities on the topics of food, food culture and health aimed at social aggregation and the involvement of residents and everyone the citizens.

"The Isola district, in the last twenty years, has been the protagonist of a profound renewal – said the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala –, while preserving its past identity. The renovation of old buildings, the opening of new premises and the station of the M5 metro line have contributed to making it more functional, attractive and accessible. What was missing from this picture was the redevelopment of the historic Zara covered market in Piazzale Lagosta. With the new project that combines tradition with innovation, good and varied food With healthy food, the covered market will rediscover its vocation as a meeting place but will be able to win over new arrivals in the neighborhood and old historic residents".

“After the redevelopment of the areas of Santa Maria del Suffragio and Lorenteggio, today we are adding a new piece to the project of modernization and revaluation of the covered markets to make them increasingly modern, efficient and protagonists of the economic and social life of the neighborhoods in which they exist”. Thus the councilor for Labor Policies, Productive Activities and Commerce Cristina Tajani, who continues: "An entrepreneurial project that has safeguarded the permanence of the majority of operators previously present in the structure, ferrying them towards a new market model. In the coming months the covered markets of Wagner, Ferrara and Morsenchio will be the subject of a new development process which is involving all the market structures of the Municipality".

“Serim is a consolidated reality in the automatic distribution sector, which, in the last five years, has also entered the world of bars and catering. An evolution of the service concept which, as for automatic distribution and the food and beverage sectors in general, goes well with the new City Market project, shared with the municipal administration". Thus Bruno Mazzoleni, President of Serim, who continues: "The redevelopment action which will favor environmental aspects: it will, in fact, be the first plastic-free market in Italy with a structure made up of eco-sustainable materials as well as particular attention to combat food waste".

Specifically, the 900 square meters of the market in Zadar (600 internal and 300 external) will host from the corner dedicated to fish lovers, where you can find many raw, cooked, frozen and even already packaged fish varieties, to the corner dedicated to meat lovers , where you can go to discover the most sought after cuts or the most exotic selections. These include zebra, kangaroo, camel, ostrich, bison, donkey, Kobe, deer, reindeer and horse. There will be no shortage of space for a modern cheesemonger or the most traditional of delicatessens, as well as a rotisserie with ready meals, an ice cream-pastry shop, a pizzeria with an adjoining bakery as well as a classic Italian bar for a coffee or an aperitif. There is also space for stalls dedicated to craft beers and fresh pasta. In this varied offer, attention to new food trends could not be missing, with a space dedicated to vegans with lots of fresh and cooked fruit and vegetables. All kitchens will be visible so as to allow customers to observe the preparation phases of the dishes.

The structure will house a restaurant space which, every two years, will modify its offer in line with international gastronomic trends. We start with a poker game of Hawaiian origin. Outside, in addition to tables and seats for customers, there will also be a space dedicated to the sale of flowers and plants, because the discovery of taste is always accompanied by color and beauty. A modern and eco-friendly structure that will also be totally plastic-free, from organic plates and cutlery to tiles and coverings made with recycled materials. A market that will also live on the web with a dedicated website and social profiles.

The Zara market will not only provide consumers with good, fresh products but will also promote healthy eating habits thanks to a rich program that will cover 365 days of the year through show cooking, community dinners, educational programs for schools, children and families. A flexible exhibition space is also planned inside, available to neighborhood associations for exhibitions and events.

After the positive experiences of commercial and social relaunch of the markets of Santa Maria del Suffragio (2015) and Lorenteggio (2017), today Zara (2020) joins in an action by the Administration to renew and enhance the great heritage of the covered municipal markets , adapting them to new lifestyles and uses by citizens.

In the coming months it will continue with the launch of new tenders for assignments to a new manager, single or consortium, of the Wagner, Ferrara and Morsenchio markets. Announcements which, in addition to enhancing the commercial vocation of the structures, aim to encourage social animation and actions that promote sociality by bringing these realities back to the center of neighborhood life.

A preview of these animation actions will take place starting from next September when, at the covered market in Piazzale Ferrara, the social and cultural animation project will begin, created by the La Strada association (leader) in collaboration with other reality of the Mazzini neighborhood with the financial support of the Cariplo Foundation. For the next two years, in fact, 4 stalls currently empty within the market will be renovated, redeveloped and equipped to become a true point of reference for the social life of the neighborhood. Two stalls will host the neighborhood concierge, bookcrossing, the neighborhood noticeboard for small announcements and other neighborhood services as well as numerous cultural events such as the presentation of books or art and photography exhibitions created by the inhabitants themselves. The other two stalls will instead be dedicated to the theme of sustainable lifestyles and will host workshops, courses and seminars aimed at adults and children relating to the promotion of healthy and correct nutrition, food transformation, the fight against waste and reuse.