THE demand for vendor space at the new Savusavu market is putting pressure on the Savusavu Town Council to accommodate the fresh interest in the facility just seven months after its opening.
Council chair Shankar Singh said the new $5.87million market was struggling to cope with demand, leaving vendors worried about securing a spot.
Mr Singh said the market, designed to modernise trading in the town, now faces a shortage of space.
“There are more than 300 vendors at the Savusavu Market,” he said, adding that another 30 were seeking trading space.
“These are new ones. Previously, there was space available for vendors who were selling at their initial stalls while the new market was being constructed, but now we are reaching capacity.”
He said the rise in demand reflected the growing movement of people from the rural areas to urban centres.
“For vegetable vendors, the stall fee is $1.05, and for kava vendors it is $2.20.”
Market vendors have welcomed the new facilities but now face some uncertainty as more traders apply for limited space, raising questions about how the council will manage the influx.
The market has become a hub of activity, attracting shoppers from across the region, which only adds to the pressure for space.
With the market’s popularity showing no signs of slowing, the town council is under pressure to find solutions to accommodate both long-standing and new vendors.
