Category Archives: Farmers Markets

An (Un)Happy Anniversary

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Leigh Sparks

On the 16th March 2020 I started working from home.  There had been an odd set of circumstances in the run-up to this date. We’d come back from South Africa in late January and I’d felt a little unwell; something … Continue reading →

Posted in Amazon, Books, Cardiff, Christmas, Consumer Change, Consumer Lifestyle, Consumers, Covid19, Farmers Markets, Food, Food and Beverage, Food Retailing, Home Delivery, Independents, Internet shopping, Local Retailers, Localisation, Lockdown, Online Retailing, Pandemic, Producers, Products, Retail Change, Retailers, Retailing, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Retailing, Small Shops, Stirling, Uncategorized, Wholesaling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Big Show (Y Sioe Fawr)

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

A few weeks ago I attended the Royal Welsh Show (Y Sioe Fawr) at Llanelwedd/Builth Wells.  For a number of years I have been to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston and have always thought it to be a large … Continue reading →

Posted in Farmers Markets, Festivals, Food and Beverage, Food Quality, Food Retailing, Markets, Producers, Rates, Retail Economy, Retailers, Rural, Sustainability, Tax | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Good Food is a Religion

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

Regular readers of this blog will be aware of my passion for Welsh rugby, fresh food and especially markets.  Every so often the stars align and we take ourselves off to Rome where all can be indulged.  And so it … Continue reading →

Posted in Campagna Amica, Consumer Lifestyle, Diet and Health, Eataly, Farmers Markets, Food, Food Quality, Food Tourism, Gastronomy, Markets, Producers, Rugby Union, Scotland Food and Drink, Slow Food, Sparks, Supply Chains, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Market Time

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

I suspect that my interest in markets was sparked at a young age when my father would take me to the livestock market and my mother would take me to the open-air market (Cheapside) and to the covered food market, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Experiential, Farmers Markets, Festivals, Food, Krakow, London, Markets, Places, Spaces, Streetscapes, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas Markets?

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

I did some shopping this year in a sort of Christmas market; as normal I frequented the Stirling Farmers’ Market including its additional date for Christmas. Last year I did go to the Edinburgh Christmas Market, but beyond the alcohol … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Competition, Farmers Markets, Independents, Local Retailers, Markets, Public Realm | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Market is for Life not just for Christmas

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

As has been noted in these pages, I am not a great fan of the Orange One. The idea that celebrity can save the high street is not one I ascribe to readily, and the Portas review for me missed … Continue reading →

Posted in Farmers Markets, Festivals, Independents, Localisation, Markets, Mary Portas, Places, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Slow Food UK Week 18-24th June 2012

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Leigh Sparks

I’ve written a couple of times over the last year or so about aspects of food culture, whether it be in Italy or in Scotland and whether at the level of Eataly in Turin or Muddy Boots in Fife. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Farmers Markets, Food Retailing, Slow Food | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

On Market Day

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Leigh Sparks

From the time I grew up in South Wales, one of the abiding memories was the market (both the livestock, but also the food and non-food markets). Bridgend’s market was quite large to my nostalgic eyes, located on a set-aside … Continue reading →

Posted in Farmers Markets, Food, Heritage, Markets | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Retailing in Seattle

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Leigh Sparks

A quarter of a century or so ago I was fortunate enough to be awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship.  As part of that I ended up in Seattle and interviewed various executives and family from Nordstrom, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Co-operatives, Customer Service, Farmers Markets, Start-ups | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Free the Fife One!

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Leigh Sparks

A few posts back I made some comments about farm shops and shops on a farm. The response directly to me was fascinating. Which is how I came to spend a day last week in Fife – and no, contrary … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Farm Shops, Farmers Markets, Food, Food Tourism, Retail Economy, Slow Food | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments