This weekend saw the Vegan Festival make its return to the Baltic Market after a number of successful events throughout 2018.
Traders gathered on Sunday in their separate stores offering their unique range of vegan goods, including tea, cakes and candles, as well as many free samples for the customers.
The Baltic Market hosts free stalls on a monthly basis, such farmers, arts and kids activities, but it was the turn of the vegan community to display its products and ideas to locals.
Emma Purchase, of traders Sweet Pea & Little Wolf, told JMU Journalism: “It was brought together by Independent Liverpool. They’re basically pioneering independence, so a lot of the vendors are here for a short time and some of them have got permanent stores themselves.
“Some of them haven’t, but it’s a stepping stone to get a permanent stand.
“It’s basically local and they kind of wanted to do markets as well that traders can set up, so you’ve got vegan markets, makers markets and they also have live music on. It’s just to pioneer independent businesses in an affordable way.”
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The Baltic Market not only hosts the festival, but organisers also ensure their mainstay vendors like Finca offer a vegan option on their menu for the day.
The idea of veganism is growing in Liverpool, and 23-year-old Oisin Hassan of West Kirby said: “It’s definitely growing. There are a lot more markets and popups everywhere now.”
Liverpool is renowned for its temporary produce stands in the build up to the festive season and Emma believes these markets are going in the right direction.
She said: “I think a lot more people want to support independent businesses now more than a few years ago. People do want to come on a Sunday afternoon and support locals and get something quite unique, especially up to Christmas instead of going to the big department stores so I think it works in that way.”
Twitter: Chantelle McKeever
Liverpool’s vegan market is back by popular demand at the Baltic Triangle, serving up a range of vegan friendly food including vegan alcohol @JMUJournalism pic.twitter.com/LGOu1NNiVw
— Chantelle Mckeever (@ChantelleMcKeee) October 14, 2018