Artisan markets: Catalysts for regional economic development
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council is embedding economic vibrancy and resilience at the heart of its capital investment strategy.
Central to this ambition is a recognition that sustainable growth is not solely driven by large-scale infrastructure or inward investment, but equally by the strength of local enterprise ecosystems, the capacity of communities to innovate and trade, and the role of artisan markets as dynamic platforms that stimulate entrepreneurship, attract visitors, and strengthen town centres.
ABC Council’s markets strategy forms part of a broader programme to stimulate investment, enhance productivity, and strengthen town centres as economic drivers. By reframing markets as strategic infrastructure rather than retail events, the Council positions them as spaces where entrepreneurial talent is nurtured, consumer demand is diversified, and civic life is re-energised.
Artisan markets are a proven economic model. Across the UK, they contribute an estimated £3.4 billion to GVA and support over 149,000 jobs, largely through micro-businesses. ABC’s artisan markets mirror this approach on a local scale, stimulating enterprise, strengthening town centre economies, and contributing to broader regional resilience.
This strategy aligns directly with the Northern Ireland Programme for Government (PfG) 2024-2027, particularly in advancing economic growth, community wellbeing, regional balance, and sustainable development. Markets provide a low-risk platform for start-ups, promote local supply chains, and reinforce town centres as spaces of culture, commerce, and community.
Catalysts for inclusive growth
The introduction of artisan food and craft markets has created a flexible, low-risk entry point for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and micro-businesses. Beyond generating additional footfall and extending visitor dwell time, these markets serve as gateways into formal economic participation, providing a clear pathway from pop-up trading to permanent business premises.
The markets are aligned with inclusive growth objectives by lowering barriers to entry, fostering female and youth entrepreneurship, and enabling underrepresented groups to contribute to the local economy.
Over five pilot markets, more than 4,000 people attended, delivering increased sales for local traders and stimulating footfall across town centres. Local retention data shows that up to 67p of every £1 spent within the markets circulates within the local economy, underlining their role in strengthening economic resilience.
Building sectoral competitiveness in agri-food
ABC Council’s Food Heartland initiative, launched in 2015, has become a recognised stamp of excellence in the all-island agri-food economy. Prestigious accolades such as the Great Taste Awards and Blas na hÉireann attest to the sector’s growing international reputation.
The Artisan Food and Craft Markets amplify this impact by providing producers with direct access to consumers, expanded brand visibility, and diversified income streams.
Craigavon-based home baker Kat O’Reilly, owner of Nice Buns and Food Heartland Markets Champion, highlights the impact on local entrepreneurship: “I am a small business owner and I know firsthand how vital opportunities like this are for local producers. It is a fantastic platform for businesses like mine to reach new customers, showcase our handcrafted products, and grow within our own communities. The markets not only celebrate the incredible talent across the Borough but also provide a real boost to the independent businesses that make our local food and craft scene so special.”
Alongside the personal impact for the micro businesses involved, the wider impact of these markets encourages the fostering of sustainable food systems, embedding local supply chains, and contributing to the borough’s agri-food economy, which is valued at £376 million.
Partnership-driven economic development
Collaboration underpins the markets’ success. Working with local chambers of commerce, the Business Partnership Alliance, and town centre taskforce teams, the Council has ensured that the markets are shaped by, and for, the business community.
By fostering strong local networks, prioritising traders from each town, and curating offerings that reflect the unique character of each location, the markets have delivered tangible economic impacts: hundreds of new enterprise opportunities, higher town centre footfall, and measurable contributions to local GDP. These outcomes demonstrate how community-scale initiatives, strategically aligned with broader groswth priorities, can generate real economic and social value.
Learning from UK and European best practice
ABC artisan markets are designed in line with leading UK and European models, combining community-centred regeneration with food-led experiential retail. Large-scale initiatives such as Borough Market in London and Markthal in Rotterdam illustrate how curated market environments can revitalise urban spaces, attract tourism, and support local entrepreneurship. Similarly, Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid and Time Out Market in Lisbon demonstrate how gastronomy and experience-driven offerings can increase dwell time, drive footfall, and enhance the visitor economy.
Although these examples operate at a much larger scale, they provide best-practice principles that ABC Artisan Markets take inspiration from: integrating local producers, embedding sustainability, curating diverse seasonal offerings, and creating engaging, experience-driven spaces that foster both economic and social resilience.
ABC’s markets also reflect emerging European priorities for sustainability and localism, drawing from initiatives such as Mercato Metropolitano in Milan, which emphasises local sourcing, circular economy principles, and ethical food systems. Through flexible market formats and low-risk platforms for micro-businesses, ABC is embedding international best practices while supporting community-focused, resilient economic development.
Markets as pillars of regeneration
The Council’s forward strategy positions the artisan food and craft markets alongside regeneration projects, townscape heritage projects such as those in Armagh and Lurgan, the Shop ABC Gift Card, and signature cultural events as part of a holistic approach to town centre renewal.
By celebrating heritage, creativity, and entrepreneurship, the borough is positioning itself as a competitive, attractive, and resilient economy within Northern Ireland, the wider UK, and the all-island context.
In this way, the Artisan Markets are more than a retail initiative; they are a strategic pillar of economic renewal, demonstrating how grassroots enterprise can underpin a modern, inclusive, and resilient Northern Ireland economy.
