Keen on supporting small, local businesses? Passionate about local produce? Eager to reduce the food miles associated with your weekly shop? Then you won’t go far wrong getting your groceries at any of these local independents.
1. Cardiff Farmers Markets
You can find us at FOUR markets across the city this weekend (two on Saturday) – come rain or shine 🌦
— Cardiff Farmers Markets (@cdffarmersmkts) October 14, 2022
Friday at Rhiwbina (10 – 1)
Saturday at Roath (9.30 – 1)
Saturday at St Fagans (10 – 3)
Sunday at Riverside (10 – 2)
Full trader lists for each market:https://t.co/UzJ0jECOeX pic.twitter.com/QlgclYyx5I
Popping up weekly in Roath, Rhiwbina and Riverside now for more than 20 years, Cardiff Farmers Markets are the OG, and a real foodie’s dream. From fresh, free-range eggs, to organic meat & veg, exotic herbs and spices and still-warm loaves of real bread from local independent bakeries, you’ll want to walk away with one of pretty much everything.
The regular inclusion of street-food traders and coffee pop-ups also mean you can properly refuel as you shop.
Riverside Market takes place evert Sundays at Fitzhamon Embankment, Cardiff, CF11 6AN @cdffarmersmkts
2.Cardiff Indoor Market
AD | It looks like @CardiffMarket_’s late night events are becoming a regular thing!
— Hungry City Hippy 🍳 (@HungryCityHippy) May 30, 2022
Tried to keep it sustainable on last week’s visit – grabbed a hot masala chai in a reusable cup, some @TokyoNightsSF vegan gyoza in my own lunchbox, and bought some #plasticfree flowers, too ☺️ pic.twitter.com/RuThTjLsdD
This Victorian beauty opened way back in May 1891, but a farmers’ market is known to have existed at the same site since the 18th century. To this day, it’s still an excellent spot for fresh bread, veg and meat – as well hot takeaways, herbs and spices, and…erm… hoover bags.
A few years ago I wrote a guide to the market for Wales Online, which you can read here.
St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 @cardiffmarket_
3. Penylan Pantry
CHEESE, We love cheese, pop in and talk cheese with us, come in and browse our cheese counter #shoplocal #indie pic.twitter.com/DHh42lbF0M
— Penylan Pantry (@PenylanPantry) March 9, 2016
Winners of the ‘best cafe’ at the 2016 Cardiff Life Awards, the Pantry is so much more than that – it’s a corner-shop-come-deli that respects local producers, the community and the environment (all the veg is organic, too).
They pride themselves on offering produce and products which meet at least three of the following principles; low food miles; organic and/or Fairtrade; quality; unique; and /or from a cooperative, social enterprise or sustainable business.
They also host regular pop-up events in partnership with other local businesses – cheese and wine night, anyone?
72 Kimberley Rd, Cardiff CF23 5DN @PenylanPantry
4. Forage Farm Shop
We visited @foragefarmshop to find out what ‘thriving local businesses that are supported & valued’ means to them. 🧑🍳
— Food Vale | Bwyd Y Fro (@thevalefood) April 11, 2021
Rydym yn ymweld â @foragefarmshop i ddarganfod beth mae ‘busnesau lleol sy’n ffynnu ac sy’n cael eu cefnogi a’u gwerthfawrogi’ yn ei olygu iddyn nhw.👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/XGSQuuuLNL
Over in the Vale, Forage is part of the Penllyn Estate, comprising 2,500 acres of beautiful Welsh farmland, lakes and woodland. This means the farm-to-fork journey for the meat in their butchery and used in their cafe is exceptionally short.
The Forage mantra is “Eat Well, Eat Welsh” so the farm shop is full of fresh, seasonal produce, and a huge range of carefully selected, dry goods and drinks from local, artisanal suppliers.
Penllyn Estate Farm Llwynhelig, Cowbridge CF71 7FF @PenllynFarm
5. Thornhill Farm Shop
First time at Thornhill Farm Shop today.. So lovely and local! #thornhillfarmshop #cardiff #organic pic.twitter.com/CxSrfw4K4i
— Leanne Brookes (@LBSingsCardiff) June 25, 2014
Just north of Cardiff, the team at Thornhill Farm stack their shelves high with fresh, tasty local produce. The butchery on site provides lamb and beef, pork and leek sausages, mint and lamb burgers, and even Kofta kebabs – all made with meat reared on the farm.
Cheese, butter and seasonal vegetables are also available, and there’s a cute coffee shop on site, too.
Capel Gwilym Rd, Cardiff CF14 9UB @Thornhill_farm
