'Young market traders are rare - we love the job'

Alex Ward and his brother, Tom, spent six months travelling the world collecting ideas for chilli sauces

Young traders from across Yorkshire have been celebrated in an effort to encourage up-and-coming entrepreneurs to take part in markets.

Most young sellers "don't have markets on their mind", according to Joe Harrison, CEO of the National Market Traders Federation, as online storefronts seem more accessible.

"Young traders are getting better and better," he said, "but the average age of a market trader is 55 - that's an industry with a problem."

Alex Ward, 27, and his 31-year-old brother Tom, won the Young Traders regional final in Barnsley, with their start-up hot sauce business, Chilli Charva.

"My grandad and my grandad's dad were a big market stall family – it's nice for me to do something to carry the tradition on," Alex said.

Since holding their first market stall in December 2024, the brothers have continued work on the business and are hoping to soon make it their full-time job.

Alex currently works as a tiler and plasterer and, in his spare time, has almost finished setting up an industrial kitchen in Rotherham for their operation.

Alex has almost finished building the kitchen

"When we've got that done and we're not in the kitchen at home, I'll be able to take on a lot more market stalls," he said.

"For us, the markets are a great place to sell. You can have a lot of laughs, it's brilliant.

"But when people, especially the younger generation, first think about selling they don't think about market stalls. It's about being online."

All the regional winners are due to attend the Young Traders national final in Stratford-Upon-Avon on 22 and 23 August, further celebrating markets as an "important part of our history and heritage".

"They are the backbone of so many market towns and cities, bringing life and vibrancy to our town and cities' High Streets," Mr Harrison said.

"They don't always get the recognition and investment they deserve."

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