I spend a lot of my life around vegan markets.
Sometimes it is for work, sometimes it is for pleasure, and often it is a bit of both. Over the years I have come to believe that independent vegan traders are doing some of the most important work in our movement, often without the recognition or support they deserve.
Read more below.
When you visit a local market and see a hot food trader flipping seitan burgers, a vegan cheese maker offering samples from behind a trestle table, or a bakery selling out of Biscoff cupcakes by lunchtime, you are witnessing real commitment. These people are usually up before dawn, hauling stock into vans, driving long distances, setting up in the cold or the rain, and hoping fortune is on their side.
It is hard work and it is financially risky work.
One of the most important things independent vegan traders do is bring plant-based food to places that might otherwise rarely see it. Many towns and smaller cities around the UK still do not have a single vegan restaurant. A monthly or even occasional market can be the only place where people get to try a fully vegan meal made with care and creativity. For some visitors, that hot dog, pie, or slice of cake is their first real experience of vegan food that is not an afterthought.
Markets are also powerful spaces for education and outreach. They do not need banners or lectures to make an impact. A conversation over a grilled sandwich or a tub of cashew cheese can also challenge assumptions. People ask questions. They taste something unexpected. They leave knowing that vegan food can be enjoyable and not a compromise.
Buying from independent traders also keeps money circulating locally. These are small businesses who often live in or near the communities they serve. They buy ingredients from other small suppliers, pay market fees that help events survive, and contribute to local economies in a very direct way. When you choose a market trader over a supermarket shelf, your money is doing more work and landing in hands that genuinely need it.
There is also the social side of markets, which I think is hugely underrated. Markets create gathering points. They give vegans and vegan curious people a reason to be in the same place at the same time. Friendships are formed, recommendations are shared, and a sense of belonging grows.
Independent traders are often innovators too. They experiment, they take risks, and they push plant-based food forward. Trends that later appear in mainstream shops often start on a market stall and I saw this when I ran Hackney Downs Vegan Market. Supporting these businesses helps ensure that creativity continues to flourish rather than being squeezed out by big brands with bigger budgets.
If you care about veganism as more than just what you personally eat, supporting local vegan traders is a meaningful act. It helps spread compassionate food further, strengthens communities, and keeps the movement visible in places where it might otherwise fade into the background.
I encourage you to look up local vegan or vegan friendly markets near you. Make a plan to visit one soon. Bring friends, chat to the traders, try something new, and remember that every purchase is a small but powerful vote for the world you want to see.
Click here to see all the upcoming UK-wide events run by Vegan Markets.
If you are in London on January 24, 2026, join me at Veganuary Fest. This market is a celebration of vegan food traders, hosted by vegan beer producer Signature Brew. Register online for FREE tickets.
I have a series of FGV events coming up in London. Click here to find out more and book tickets. You can also join my FGV email newsletter online here.
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