Food markets are an institution in Europe and have existed for centuries. Europe’s history is built upon the history of its markets and its great traders, who traveled all over the continent exchanging their products. The sea played a key role in trade development, especially the Mediterranean. Sailors traveled through a web of routes of unlimited scope, principally for trading, but these trips also spread new ideas and inventions.

According to historians, Phoenicians reached Cornwall in Great Britain, where they bought tin and exchanged products. Ancient Greeks travelled all over Europe trading a wide range of food products. Roman merchants hired huge vessels to carry their valuable freight of wine, olive oil and grains. Many cities were built up around their central markets during the Middle Ages. Markets have at all times been a key piece in the building of cities and also in the European building process.