WHY RUNNING THIS STALL’S A PLUM JOB FOR HAYDON!
Greengrocer takes over after cousins end 113-year market link
THERE’S a new face behind a longestablished fruit and veg stall at one of the city’s busiest markets.
Haydon Sumnell has taken over the spot on Longton Market from John and Arthur Derbyshire, who retired after more than 50 years running the family stall.
The cousins’ retirement ended A&J Derbyshire’s 113-year family association with the market. The stall was previously run by their fathers and grandmother.
Now Haydon – who has 25 years’ experience of running a fruit and veg stall including the one outside the Royal Stoke University Hospital – is offering a warm welcome to both old and new customers.
He said: “Derbyshire’s came up at Longton and I thought it would be a fantastic venture for us to continue supporting Stoke-on-trent with markets. We’re going to carry on the tradition of a good selection and good variety like they did.
“We got really good feedback, and because we know a lot of people in Stoke-on-trent we’ve got a good support and good followers. Hopefully we’ll have Derbyshire’s old
customers , plus we’ll bring a new generation into the market as well.”
The 41-year-old, from Silverdale, says added: “I love my job. It’s about 25 years I’ve been in the fruit trade now. Every day I get up, I love that challenge every day. You don’t know what you’re buying, you don’t know what you’re selling.
“I get a buzz out of that, I enjoy it. I try my utmost. I can do home deliveries for people, care homes and warehouses.
“I just try to help people where I can, and hopefully the support comes back round in a circle. That’s how little businesses should be.”
Haydon also hopes that despite the encroachment of supermarket branches, he will be able to keep small local traders alive.
“I know it’s hard to compete with supermarkets, you can’t physically compete with supermarkets,” he said. “If they want to charge 10 pence a banana, they’ll do that, you can’t physically stop them.
“All you can do is have quality stuff, cheap as possible as long as you’re still earning a living, and just look after your customers.
“They like to come out and they like to have a chat. That’s what markets are all about, and hopefully fingers crossed, from this week people will support the markets.”