HFM Statement regarding the New Chester Market

Hoole Food Market, 23 Faulkner Street, Hoole, Chester CH2 3BD

We’d like to start by congratulating all involved parties and traders on creating the New Chester Market. It’s a brilliant facility for Chester and a beautiful space for the local leisure industry.

We’ve heard from many sources over the last few days that we’re setting up a branch of HFM in the New Chester Market in the week between Christmas and New Year. Flattered as we are about this rumour, we’d like to clarify that it is just a rumour, completely baseless and not in our plans.

The main reason we’re not willing to set up a version of our business there is that Francis Thomas, the most well established independent Greengrocer in Chester is in such close proximity. Mark Thomas, who owns and runs Francis Thomas is someone who we both admire, respect and work closely with. We certainly wouldn’t ever intend to directly compete in this way with another independent fresh food retailer, and we imagine hearing such rumours has been distressing to Mark and his team.

We are always proud to work alongside and with the many and varied independent businesses that Chester currently enjoys. We’re also pleased to help and support businesses who operate in the exact same sector as us. We’ve been very happy to be supported by people such as Mark Thomas from Francis Thomas, Kriss Kazmierski from Ex-Squeeze Me in Handbridge, as well as Ray, formerly of the Farm Shop in Boughton. The real competition faced by all independent food retailers is from large supermarkets, who really are creating problems in our food system and who are so competitive that they’re ruining British farmers and producers. Look out for Leann’s blog post in the coming days. Leann will be writing about eggs, and the problems faced by the contemporaries of our egg farmer.

We are very happy with our position in Hoole and have no desire to move from Faulkner Street. Expanding is not currently in our plan either. We were invited to take a look at one of the vacant stands in the New Chester Market, but were never seriously interested or contemplating such a venture. The diverse and efficient business model we have adopted simply wouldn’t work within the limitations the New Chester Market has for the type of fresh food retail we do.

Thanks for reading.

Jason & Leann Shaw

Hoole Food Market Ltd.