LocalMarkets.ie Celebrates National Launch !

Online Irish Food Producer Marketplace Goes National!

An innovative online retail business, that offers customers the convenience of having premium quality food delivered to their own home, is celebrating the launch of its new nationwide service.

 LocalMarkets.ie, a Cork-based business that was established last year, aims to help consumers throughout Ireland connect with the thriving local producer food scene – even if the pressure of their daily lives means they don’t have time to regularly visit their much-loved local farmers’ market or favourite local producer!

The company’s delivery service, which initially extended across Cork city and county, has now been expanded to include the entire 32 counties. Founder of LocalMarkets.ie, Rory McCann, says it’s a decision that’s been driven by repeat requests from prospective customers:

“The decision to go national had always been part of our long-term business plan, but with the number of queries coming in we decided that we couldn’t delay the launch of our nationwide service any longer. Commuters, rural-dwellers, busy parents and those following gluten-free or other special diets, have been especially keen to see the website go national. There’s certainly a substantial number of people out there who are eager to shop for authentic local Irish food, but because of their location or hectic lifestyles, some food enthusiasts just don’t get an opportunity to visit their local market, producer or specialty delicatessen. For these people, a site like LocalMarkets.ie is the ideal way to support Irish producers and the most convenient way to enjoy superior quality food”.

The English Market in Cork

Much of the food available on LocalMarkets.ie is offered by producers who operate stalls and retail outlets in Cork’s renowned English Market as well as from Mahon Point Farmers’ Market (voted Best Farmers’ Market in Ireland 2010 by Good Food Ireland and The Bridgestone Guide). As the website grows in popularity, it’s expected that more producers from all parts of Ireland will begin to utilise the website in order to sell their fresh fish, smoked fish, premium meat cuts, charcuterie, cheese, condiments, baked goods and much more, to a wider, national customer base.

A Larger Selection of Irish Cheeses

According to McCann, LocalMarkets.ie is not a traditional retail website, but is styled along the lines of a food ‘movement’.

“Before a new product becomes available on LocalMarkets.ie, we like to know that its producers share our philosophy – that truly great food is only created by taking the time to use the very best ingredients and the very highest standard of food production techniques. We’re passionate about local food and we believe that sustainable food production and offering producers sustainable profit margins are important aspects of encouraging growth in Ireland’s valuable food sector."

Fresh Fish Every Day

"It’s also why we represent producers at outdoor events and food markets, particularly when the logistics of reaching a faraway venue or staffing an additional food stall pose difficulty for a small food business that may have limited resources. It’s a broad and novel approach to business, but so far we’ve been bowled over by the positive response – from both producers and consumers”, he explains.

Gluten-free and many other types of Bread

“We’re not just a retail website. We have an ethos that’s not too far from a traditional co-op approach. We’re passionate about local food and we believe that sustainable food production and offering producers sustainable profit margins are important aspects of encouraging growth in Ireland’s valuable food sector. It’s also why we represent producers at outdoor events and food markets, particularly when the logistics of reaching a far away venue or staffing an additional food stall pose difficulty for a small food business that may have limited resources. It’s a broad and novel approach to business, but so far we’ve been bowled over by the positive response – from both producers and consumers”, he explains.

Fresh Vegetables to your Door!

Irish foodies who are interested in finding out more about the food movement, or availing of the new nationwide delivery service, can log on to www.LocalMarkets.ie, where they can create a user account.

Once registered with the website, customers can browse product sections by category (e.g. by food product, by producer/food label etc.), collect reward points and use the website’s convenient re-ordering service for their favourite products.

Producers who would like to sell their produce via the LocalMarkets.ie website, are invited to register their interest by emailing info@localmarkets.ie

Don't forget to feed the fish at the bottom of this post!

zack

What Kind of Value is This?

Sometimes I like doing the shopping for the house - not too often, but I find it therapeutic, sometimes.

Recently, however, I encountered a situation in a large nationally branded SuperMarket that made me think about the value that is being offered to the consumers today. It made me think about the people behind the marketing of these brands. It made me think about the people buying the various brands.

Sauntering down the aisles I was looking at the price per kg of similar products as opposed to the actual sale price of the items. This is normally shown in little tiny print at the bottom of the price card below each product and can give you a very quick view of the real cost of the product.

In the vegetable aisle I saw fresh Broccoli wrapped up in plastic on a little white tray - €2.75 for 300g - nicely trimmed with good florets and not too much stem. "Mmm", I thought. "That'll be nice with a little smoked trout and pasta with that red pepper pesto I got for Christmas". I picked up a few bananas and stuff while there and went over to the electronic scales.

Bananas, one leek, one turnip. "Ah sure I'll throw on the broccoli for the craic!" Not a good plan. The Broccoli which was marked at €2.75 in the pack showed up at 97c when weighed on the scales!

Surely a mistake? No - and don't call me Shirley.

I thought I’d better bring this to someone's attention in case it simply was a mistake and called to a young fella that was stocking shelves nearby. I explained quickly the situation so as not to confuse the young chap and asked him to tell his manager.

As I stood in the Q for the checkout one of the store managers approached and mentioned my “problem with the broccoli”. “Sorry about that” she said “You’re right, but we don’t make the prices here in the store – they are directed by Head Office. But I will bring it to their attention”

Duly noted and thanked I went home.

Two days later the price of the pre-wrapped Broccoli was cut in half, with the words “For Your Convenience” printed above the wrapped vegetable section.

The moral of the story is simple - Check your Prices and “Caveat Emptor” as they say “Let the Buyer Be Aware”.