Autumn and winter food markets can be a great opportunity for small food businesses to expand their reach, boost sales, and increase their market share. This post will cover the key areas to focus on to start selling food at UK food markets, covering everything from registration to tips for maximising sales.
Getting Started: Licensing & Legal Requirements
The first step involved will be registering as a food business with your local authority – this needs to be done at least 28 days before you can start trading. You will also need to educate yourself on market-specific rules, environmental health checks, and food safety regulations.
Food Safety & Hygiene Standards
Of course, food safety and hygiene must be a top priority for any kind of food business. You will need to comply with food safety laws, particularly when selling high-risk products such as dairy, meats, or cooked foods. This can be challenging when selling at a marketplace, as you will need to consider the safe storage, transportation, and preparation of food to avoid contamination. All team members should have food safety training, and clear procedures must be established to ensure food safety and hygiene at all stages.
Choosing the Right Markets & Maximising Sales
Of course, you will want to choose the right markets to sell your products and maximise sales. Autumn and winter can be ideal seasons because food markets are popular, including local farmers’ markets and Christmas markets, so be sure to research upcoming markets in your area. You will want to set up an attractive stall that showcases your products and helps you stand out from the competition.
It is also a good idea to consider ways to protect your business, which is important in the food industry. This can involve taking out insurance and using professional negligence solicitors if there is a risk of legal disputes.
Marketing & Growing Your Business
It can be hard to stand out from the crowd, which is why clever marketing is key for growing your business. This should include using social media to increase visibility and tell people what markets you will be appearing at, offering free food samples, and running promotions. It is also smart to network with other traders and continuously improve your products based on customer feedback.
The advice in this post should be useful for any small UK food business looking to start selling at autumn and winter food markets. Food markets can be a great way to elevate your brand and get your name out there, so it is important that you know how to sell effectively.