The existence of markets such as Broadway in London, would suggest there is a market and it’s growing, could the uniformity and blandness of much high street food be the reason for the success of street-food in these areas.
It is worth noting that fine food markets are bucking the trend, many traditional markets are struggling, they were never food markets in the first place, simply cheap places to buy your wares, with a food trader for hungry shoppers and traders, fine food markets are a reasonably new concept to these shores.
However, in the same way that many traders are leaving Borough market due to increases in pitch fees, the early success of street food could become its undoing as traders try to balance the affordability of their produce with increasing pitch fees and greater competition. The question is how big will the demand for street food grow? Are their enough traders out their producing high quality food in the right places to get the scene off the ground and keep it going? How long before the market managers start to hike the pitch prices? As we have seen in events, the more catering companies that move into the market, the more likely pitch fees are to increase.
The problem with markets has always been that traders do not give up successful pitches, you could wait years for a good spot on a market.
There is already a breakaway market near borough market for traders who’ve had enough of the escalating pitch fees, and a night food market in Shoreditch, many more fine food markets are being planned and pitched for. However, The best way for street-food traders to guarantee somewhere to work may be get back to their roots and organise these things themselves, as Healthy Yummies, The Meatwagon and the Towpath Café did with their towpath festival.
This work will not fall on your laps, if you want it, you have to make it happen.
