Seven food and craft businesses who took part in a Belfast Council business programme will be selling their unique range of giftware at one of the city’s leading suppliers of locally produced crafts this month.

All the businesses participated in the council’s Market Start Up Programme last year and will now be selling their products in The Wicker Man on High Street on Saturday (9 March). The programme was free of charge and open to people in Belfast dedicated to opening their own food or craft businesses.

Customers to The Wicker Man this Saturday can treat themselves to a range of fine gifts from textile arts and crafts to hand decorated candles and cakes. The businesses selling their goods at The Wicker Man are Madame Cocoa, Eat Sweet, Andy Gibson Photography, Varuna Bansal Candles, Asa McDowell Crafts, Pin to Paper, and Blue.

Andy Gibson from Andy Gibson Photographer said: "I am really looking forward to trading at The Wicker Man. It’s a beautiful shop and will give me an opportunity to let more customers see my work and buy it. The Market Start Up Programme has given me opportunities that I couldn’t have organised for myself."

Graeme Hassard from Eat Sweet will also be selling his products at Swantons Gourmet Foods on the Lisburn Road after the store started buying from him in February.

"The Market Start Up Programme has been great for helping me develop my business," he said. "I now trade at St George’s Market every Sunday and I’ve been introduced to buyers which has helped me get my products into several coffee shops and restaurants."

Participants of the council’s Market Start Up Programme took part in tailored workshops giving them an introduction to market trading. As well as receiving one-to-one mentoring on developing their business ideas and help with sourcing new materials, packaging and display, they had the chance to meet successful business owners and market traders at St George’s Market. They test traded at St George’s at the Christmas Market in December and some are now trading there regularly.

Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Council`s Development Committee, said: "The council is committed to supporting new and existing businesses. The Market Start-Up Programme gave artisan food and craft producers a chance to test trade their products at St George`s Market, experience the benefits of doing so and build a new business."

(GK)