Kirkgate Market traders are urging Leeds residents to shop local following the launch of Good Sixty – a fresh-food delivery service.
The new launch means that Leeds locals can shop online for locally sourced produce sold by small, independent businesses in Kirkgate Market.
According to Good Sixty, every pound that is spent with a local shop has a 60% greater economic benefit to the community than spending it at a large retailer or supermarket.
Chris Edwards, Good Sixty’s CEO, said: “Supporting independent retailers and producers has never been more important.
“There’s a huge avenue of customers who want to go to the market on a regular basis but don’t have the time. That’s who we’re trying to target.
“We need to be competitive with the supermarkets.”
The online service has been running for three weeks, but Kirkgate Market traders are already seeing repeat customers.
Steven Mason, Kirkgate Market’s manager, said: “The feedback from customers is really, really good.
“The average basket is around £43 which is excellent. We didn’t want people just buying a few little bits – people are doing a big shop.”
A study by Waitrose found that online food shopping increased by 61% during the Covid-19 pandemic, but many businesses in Kirkgate Market did not have a platform to sell their products online.
Aimee Brown, co-founder of zero-waste store Panda Refills, told Yorkshire Voice: “Good Sixty will help us traders sell locally and grow our businesses.
“We will definitely be taking advantage of it to help us get into the online market.”
One business that has already infiltrated the online market is Malcolm Michaels Quality Butchers. They have already been delivering their produce to customers via their Facebook page – which has over 11,000 followers.
Malcolm Leary, who has worked as a butcher in Kirkgate Market for nearly 40 years, said: “Our Facebook deliveries were based on customers we had already.
“Good Sixty is getting us introduced to new customers. We want it to keep getting better and better.”
Good Sixty also aims to tackle environmental issues by showcasing traders who sell locally sourced and sustainably-farmed produce – and by using electric delivery vans to reduce air pollution.
Currently, the traders involved in the scheme include Neil’s Greengrocers, Malcolm Michaels Butchers, Whitaker’s Farmhouse Eggs & Cheese, Ramsden’s Fishmongers, Bluebird Bakery, and Panda Refills.
However, Good Sixty and the Kirkgate Market team are hoping to expand this in the future.
Steven said: “Our long-term aim is to do click and collect so you can just pop in.
“We would then look to do national deliveries as well. There’s great opportunity for it to grow.”
Kirkgate Market has recently shared a promotional deal with LeedsBID, which includes people working in offices in the city centre, and Leeds City Council workers to encourage Leeds workers to shop with Good Sixty.