Unique Chichester food business expands during lockdown - 'We are needed more than ever before'

Christmas is getting closer by the day and although we cannot currently hit the shops, arms laden with bags of goodies before stopping off for a festive drink and bite to eat in the usual way, we can still do our bit to support local.
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Our local businesses that are pulling out all the stops to keep trading during the lockdown need our help. That is why as part of our #supportlocal campaign, the Observer is offering to promote businesses still trading for free.

One such business that is keeping its spirits high and trying to adapt is The Rare Brand Market in Chichester.

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Placing the emphasis firmly on localness and quality, Emma Schwarz, launched a food outlet, called The Barn Little London, on September 23.

Emma Schwarz (right), launched a food outlet, called The Barn Little London, in SeptemberEmma Schwarz (right), launched a food outlet, called The Barn Little London, in September
Emma Schwarz (right), launched a food outlet, called The Barn Little London, in September

The food comes from nearly 40 different independent suppliers, 90 per cent of them within a 30 to 40 mile radius of Chichester.

“There’s been unbelievable support locally,” Emma said. “We have brought to life two buildings which were, in effect, derelict for the last decade. We’ve also created a huge mini food movement, bringing back a proper, old fashioned butcher into the city centre.

“Our high street needs this type of thing more than ever before.”

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After a successful opening five weeks ago, Emma said the business ‘could have detracted’ when the second lockdown was announced.

However, it has ‘done exactly the opposite’ and taken the opportunity to expand.

Emma said: “We are spending the month expanding the eatery for when we reopen in December and we’ve been growing the online range by 100 per cent. It’s pretty unheard of that someone would have taken on two retail leases at this time when retail has been more rock bottom than it has ever been. We are going back to what a food shop used to be.

“More than ever before, Chichester city centre needs us.

“Rather than feeding the supermarkets, why don’t we turn to some of the independents and support more local. We have some of the most phenomenal food on our doorstep. It’s brilliant but hasn’t been celebrated properly.”

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Ten per cent of everything the business sells will go to of UKHarvest, a charity which collects quality surplus food from a variety of retailers/producers and delivers it, direct and free of charge, to other charities that can make use of it to support those in need. It provides much needed assistance to vulnerable men, women and children across the UK.

Emma said: "They are massively saving people at the moment. Homelessness has increased by a third [and] there's tons of vulnerable families at the moment because people have lost jobs.

"The community is very vulnerable so a charity like UK Harvest is massively in demand at the moment. In our first month, we raised £3,000 for them just by giving them 10 per cent of everything we made."

To be included in our next Open for Business pull-out, businesses should email no more than 60 words about their company and the service/products they offer to Mandy Magee at [email protected]. Entries are subject to space.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

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