Artisan bakers put heart and soul into their stall offerings
Our weekly exploration of the stalls that make up Ashbourne’s Thursday market continues with an introduction by Ashbourne Communities CIC (Ashcom) to an artisan bakery, which has been a regular visitor to Shrovetide Walk
CERTAIN themes are emerging in the Thursday community-run market on Shrovetide Walk. The most important is the weekly social interaction between customers and traders and among customers themselves, all such interaction in a safe socially distanced environment.
After all, that is what a market is all about - community. y.
This is of particular sigignificance in our Covid d world where isolation and loneliness have become more widespread. Ashcom is proud to have been able to help in creating this safe environment.
Community engage- ment lies at the root of fa a market, indeed is the essential underpinning of f a high street and town centre.
Unless we’re prepared to spend money with our independent fixed premise retailers and our market traders we cannot assume they will be there for us in future months.
In our present world of lockdowns and social distancing and, with the growth of online shopping and supermarkets, this community support is even more essential. The Loaf bakery, one of the market’s regular traders, epitomises the significance of this two way relationship between the quality of service and product on offer and the loyalty and support of community.
As Suzie Melbourne of The Lo Loaf explains: “Our hum humble little bakery is bas based in the pictureperfect village of p
Crich.
“We specialise i in artisan bread, b baked overnight, b by hand. We are d determined to co continue the age old tradition of bread bakin baking without automation and production lines.
“W “We h have a small team of expert bakers who put their heart and soul into each and every loaf.”
You will find Paul Melbourne at The Loaf stall each week and this commitment is being rewarded by the community as Suzie goes on to say: “Our following at Ashbourne market has been steadily growing and as popularity has increased we’ve started to bring more and more to the market. We’ve added some of our speciality sourdoughs such as the cheddar and stout sourdough and our sun-dried tomato sourdough.
“We’ve also brought along our famous cinnamon buns which have really gone down a treat - but you’ve got to get there early because these sell out fast”
Ashcom is delighted that its decision to stay open through this second lockdown is of benefit to such local producers. Suzie said: “In this second lockdown period, when we all know a little bit more about the virus and have learned and adapted to operate in a Covidsecure way, we are delighted Ashbourne Market has made the bold decision to stay open and continue to allow essential traders to attend.
“We have maintained outdoor markets are one of the safest ways to shop and it’s a great way to get out and see a friendly face when so much contact has been restricted.
“We really hope that if one good thing comes out of 2020 it’s that people will recognise the lengths that small independent businesses will go to in order to continue working and serving their communities.
“Markets are a great way to showcase these small businesses that are passionate about providing the service and the products they do.”
We brought along our famous cinnamon buns, which have really gone down a treat.
Suzie Melbourne