Vegan Gemma Parkes welcomes the arrival of a plant-based market in Enfield

I was excited to see Enfield Charter Market transformed last month into a plant-based piazza for the first time in 700-year history.

The Vegan Markets UK event gave vegan and vegan-curious locals the chance to explore plant-based food and beauty products. The company, which works with councils across the country to deliver vegan markets to cities and towns, made its Enfield debut with a smorgasbord of stalls offering up ethical eats, natural beauty brands and eco-friendly products.

Although ‘millennials’ seem to be driving the vegan movement, shoppers of varying ages came down to snap up an array of plant-based goods. Inquisitive foodies were treated to guilt-free fast food options, including Deliver Guru’s crispy tempeh katsu burger, while sweet-toothed shoppers flocked to Dominees Doughnuts, helping them sell-out within two hours of opening. Primrose Grazings’ showstopping vegan cheese boards also hit the spot for those with a more savoury palette.

There was plenty of zero-waste cruelty-free finds for beauty enthusiasts too. IUVO Skincare’s luxurious range of freshly handmade products equipped shoppers with everything they need for self care and relaxation. The ethically conscious, family-run business’s creations are made wholly from natural, organic formulas, which provided customers with safer skincare alternatives.

For those wanting to live more sustainably, vegan events are imperative to empowering and inspiring people to make their own choices. By hosting an event in Enfield, Vegan Markets UK encouraged locals to support like-minded, ethical independent businesses. This is an important step towards diversifying the high street, which can ordinarily be difficult to navigate for vegans like me.

While it’s unclear whether Vegan Markets UK will return to Enfield in future, the market’s visit aligns with Enfield Council’s recent pledge to fight the climate crisis by banning meat at council-run events. The introduction of a regular vegan market would surely pave the way to making Enfield a greener borough.

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