This year’s Love Your Local Market campaign was launched at Todmorden Market in the Calder Valley by High Street’s Minister, MP Jake Berry on Friday 18 May 2018, highlighting the importance of markets in the economic regeneration of high streets, towns and cities.
The visit was part of the National Association of British Market Authorities’ (NABMA) Love Your Local Market campaign – a fortnight of activities across the UK putting retail markets at the heart of consumer experience and providing pitches for new enterprises to test their business ideas.
High Street’s Minister Jake Berry said:
‘As a regular shopper at my local market, I know that markets are vibrant places that can be the cornerstone of the community, but the success of Love Your Local Market also shows how they can encourage young traders and give hundreds of people the opportunity to try their hand at starting their own business.
‘Markets are part of the historical fabric of our communities and have an important role in their future. Like our town centres and high streets, markets are rising to the challenge of attracting the modern consumer, becoming more community and partnership focussed and adapting to today’s technologies.
‘I congratulate NABMA on growing this successful initiative and would like to thank all the market managers, private and local authority operators, as well as the many volunteers and community groups that have devoted their time and energy to supporting their local markets.’
Now in its 7th year, NABMA’s Love Your Local Market was started in 2012 following recommendations made in the Portas Review. The measures called for a National Market Day, which soon developed into Love Your Local Market Fortnight, which now takes place annually in May and has become an international movement spanning 24 countries. This year’s global theme is Markets: Close to Your Heart.
During the Love Your Local Market campaign which runs until the 31st May, Todmorden market is working in partnership with the highly successful Incredible Edible project which began in the town transforming disused urban spaces into gardens where people can work together to grow fresh, healthy food, helping to build stronger communities.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Strategy, Cllr Barry Collins, said: “Todmorden Market is the ideal place to launch this year’s Love Your Local Market campaign. The market has a great mix of stalls and traders and is almost at capacity, making for a fantastic atmosphere.
“This is an exciting time for our markets. Improvements have recently taken place in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, with lots more developments planned, including a major programme of investment at Halifax Borough Market.”
During his visit to Todmorden Market, the Minister met a number of long-established traders including Adam Wolstenholme of Exchange Coffee who has worked in the market since he was 15. The company began in Todmorden Market and has grown to have coffee houses across the North and a successful wholesale business supplying to the catering trade, hotels and restaurants across the UK.
Other traders included, butcher, Paul Stansfield, who began working on the market as a 16 year old and Jean Hartley, Presidents of the Market Tenants Association. Born and bred in the town, Jean’s family have lived in Todmorden for generations spanning 500 years.
There was also a chance to sample pork pies from the market’s in-house bakery, Ham Corner where Tony Thomas creates and bakes a range of cooked meats.
NABMA’s President Elect, Cllr Geraldine Carter explains:
‘This year’s Love Your Local Market theme, ‘Close to your Heart’ is highly appropriate for Todmorden market where over 95% of traders live within the local community.
‘Winning Britain’s Best Small Indoor Market earlier this year was the icing on the cake for Todmorden after the terrible time that this valley endured after two sessions of flooding. We are delighted that Jake took time out of his busy schedule to make Todmorden a highlight of the Love Your Local Market fortnight.’
