Rochdale’s Choice Family Butcher pulls out of indoor market and foodhall

Rochdale’s Choice Family Butcher has left the Rochdale indoor market and foodhall, pulling out of on Saturday (20 April).

The Rochdale Market Foodhall and Café on The Butts opened in November 2018 following a £750,000 transformation spearheaded by Rochdale Council and Rochdale Development Agency (RDA).

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123857/rochdales-new-indoor-market-opens-its-doors

One of the original traders to open in the new market, Rochdale’s Choice, has now left the town after just five months of business.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/128/advertorials/123359/new-traditional-family-butcher-is-rochdales-choice-for-local-meat

Darren Rushton, who ran Rochdale’s Choice, said: “It is a shame to be leaving, but as a business, we are better off leaving. We have given it plenty of chances over the months, but the number of customers has reduced whilst our delivery rates have gone up.

“I don’t blame people for not coming to Rochdale’s market. We were asked to stay, but the only thing they could really do is start again. The demographic is wrong, and it focuses on one set of customers.

“The way the market was sold to us, no promises have been kept. It has been nowhere close. The only good thing has been the Artisan Market, which does bring a decent footfall, but that’s only once a month.

“Nothing has been done to promote the market, and we have had no help. Fridays were taken away, losing a day and losing stalls.

 “We have been very positive throughout, but there’s nothing here for us. We’ve worked out that 80% of our orders are online, so we will be continuing deliveries and running Cryers in Littleborough.

“Thank you to all our customers.”

Damian Cooke, Operations Director at Rochdale Development Agency, said: “We are disappointed that the butcher opted to leave the indoor market when our financial support package, designed to help new traders establish themselves, came to an end.

“We are, however, confident that we will quickly find a new high-quality trader to fill this space. We have invested heavily to transform this building into a first-rate indoor market, which benefits from being in a high footfall area next to all our major public transport links in the heart of the picturesque town centre conservation area.

“In addition to this, our new monthly Artisan Market, which returns this Saturday, regularly brings thousands of new visitors into the market area, which is an additional benefit for our fantastic indoor traders.”

The market, formerly Santander bank, now houses a greengrocer, Jordan’s eggs and plants, and Montague’s Café.

Anyone who is interested in trading in the indoor market is asked to phone market manager David Bellis on: 07498 655 034 or email D.Bellis@investinrochdale.co.uk