The 2025 Love Your Local Market (LYLM) campaign has drawn to a close after an incredible two weeks of vibrant activity, record-breaking engagement, and heartwarming celebration. From 16th to 31st May, markets across the UK came alive under this year’s campaign headline: “Made by Markets”—a message that perfectly captured the people, passion, and purpose behind every stall and story.
With the tagline “Where community, creativity, and commerce come together,” LYLM 2025 brought to the forefront what markets do best: unite people, support local livelihoods, and inspire pride in place.
This year’s campaign delivered exceptional results both online and on the ground:
- Social media impressions increased by 160%
- Engagements grew by 14.5%
- Video views rose by nearly 90%
- Facebook activity increased by over 200%
- Instagram and Facebook audiences grew by more than 30%
- Overall net audience growth climbed by nearly 29%
The campaign also gained powerful recognition in Parliament. Julia Buckley MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Markets Group, and Jo Platt MP both publicly championed the importance of markets during the campaign, calling for continued support to safeguard these vital community spaces. The campaign was resoundingly endorsed by the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell MP, who praised LYLM as “a great campaign”—a strong signal of cross-party appreciation for the value of markets in both local life and national policy.
Beyond Westminster, local Members of Parliament and Members of the Welsh Assembly visited markets throughout the campaign period. These visits provided valuable opportunities to meet traders, connect with market managers, and witness first-hand the social and economic impact of markets in constituencies across the UK. Their presence added momentum to the campaign and reinforced the message that markets remain central to vibrant, sustainable communities.
Markets, traders, and town teams embraced the “Made by Markets” theme with creativity and heart—showcasing the unique personalities, heritage, and innovation that make local markets such vital pillars of their communities.
A number of markets truly stood out this year for their exceptional energy, creativity, and visibility throughout the campaign. South Molton Pannier Market brought its unique charm to life with regular updates and strong community engagement, while Greenwich Market used its platform to highlight both heritage and innovation—alongside some great events and so much music and joy. In the north, Barrow Market created a vibrant digital presence that captured the attention of audiences near and far.
Bromsgrove and Redditch Markets each showcased dynamic events and trader stories that reflected the spirit of their local communities, while Stockton-on-Tees Markets and Barnstaple Pannier Market impressed with a mix of high-quality visuals and consistent participation across platforms. Meanwhile, the Young Traders Market events proved to be a standout feature of this year’s campaign—spotlighting the energy and talent of the next generation of market traders and drawing enthusiastic support both online and in person, as many markets used the extra publicity from LYLM to highlight their own upcoming Young Traders events.
This collective success would not have been possible without the dedication, belief, and collaboration of so many. Our heartfelt thanks go to:
- ZAPP, our main sponsor, for championing the campaign and believing in the power of markets
- GM Imber, for providing free trader insurance, giving traders vital peace of mind
- The many markets and traders who turned their spaces into places of joy, connection, and commerce
- The customers, whose support brought life, energy, and purpose to each market day
- Our incredible network of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Town Centre Teams, and Tourist Teams, who helped amplify our message in every corner of the country
- And to Ian and Rob from Square Cactus, thank you for another incredible year powering the entire LYLM campaign—from strategy to storytelling, and every digital moment in between
We are also proud to share these words from David Preston, CEO of NABMA:
“Love Your Local Market 2025 was not just a campaign—it was a statement of confidence in the future of our high streets and local economies. Under the banner of ‘Made by Markets,’ we celebrated the incredible diversity, creativity, and resilience of our traders and communities.
The tagline—‘Where community, creativity, and commerce come together’—truly came to life in markets across the country. From themed events to inspiring stories shared online, this year demonstrated how markets remain central to the places they serve.
We’ve seen more engagement than ever before, greater collaboration between partners, and a real sense of pride in what local markets can achieve. LYLM 2025 has set a new benchmark—and it’s a reminder that when local government, traders, sponsors, and communities come together, we can achieve something extraordinary.”
Love Your Local Market Champions of 2025
And the celebration doesn’t end here. In the coming days, we will be announcing the Love Your Local Market Champions of 2025—a special recognition of those markets, traders, and supporters who went above and beyond during this year’s campaign. From creative storytelling and outstanding community engagement to on-the-ground energy and innovation, these Champions reflect the very best of what LYLM stands for. Watch out for the exciting news soon!
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce a special milestone: Love Your Local Market 2026 will mark our 15th Anniversary, running from Friday 15 May to Saturday 30 May 2026. It will be our biggest celebration yet—honouring 15 years of progress, passion, and partnerships.
Thank you to everyone who helped shape LYLM 2025. Whether behind a stall, behind a screen, or in the crowd—you made it happen.
Here’s to 2026: Made by Markets, Made by You