Business booms for Doncaster Market as shoppers look for alternatives after coronavirus panic buying

Traders who do deliveries say they they have seen orders increase by up to 500 per cent in recent days after concerns arose over corona virus.

Fruit and veg trader Ryan Davies, who is also chairman of the Doncaster Market Traders Federation, said stalls had been fully stocked and were able to re-stock quickly because they had direct links to their suppliers rather than complicated chains.

He said: “We can just go straight to our growers in Ranskill and ask for 400 carrots, and they go and pick them. It’s more complicated for supermarkets.

“We also do online ordering, and that was up 500 per cent in the last week.

“The market has been really busy, and all the markets in Doncaster are running. We’re all working 22 hours a day at the moment. We’ve had to increase staff hours.

“I know Neil’s Cheese had to go over to Lancashire to get more cheese this week. We are all trying to do our best. I think the markets are really coming into their own this week.”

Long serving trader Nigel Berry, who runs a fish stall on the market, said he had personally not seen a large increase in sales of fish, but was aware of many of the butchers stalls were seeing an increase in sales.

He said: “I know some of the butchers were saying that the level of sales at the moment is like Christmas – it has been that busy. Deliveries are coming in as normal.”

The market remains open.

Hayden Ferriby, commercial director at Market Asset Management, which runs Doncaster’s markets, said: “On top of existing hygiene and cleansing regimes and the excellent cleanliness of the individual food outlets, we are increasing the frequency and depth of cleaning and have installed public hand sanitising facilities.

“Our team are actively seeking out other people and groups across the town to collaborate with for the benefit of our community. We’re reaching out to vulnerable parts of the community to let them know of our new delivery options and innovating our offerings to meet their requirements.”