02: Matt Bigland, Founder & CEO of Blend Family - Building community-led Food Halls and letting authenticity shine

About this episode

Welcome to Beyond the Counter - the UK's first podcast and content series dedicated to the Food Halls & Markets. Sign up for free to our monthly articles and annual Food Hall data report: https://forms.contacta.io/68e54cbaf8643266cccaf0aa.html Joining us for Episode 2 is Matt Bigland, Founder & CEO of Blend Family - the folks behind Cutlery Works and Cambridge Street Collective (voted UK's Best Food Hall in 2024) in Sheffield and the recently opened Tower Bridge Collective in London. Here's a sneak peek of what we cover in the chat: Culture Over Classics: moving beyond the "safer options" to build a diverse and authentic food scene that showcases their traders' genuine culture and family recipes. The Transformational Play: why they believe food halls need to be transformational, not transactional. They focus on curating a unique schedule of events and family-focused fun (ever heard of a kids' rave?). Doing Good is Good Business: the story behind the Blend Culinary Foundation and how simple concepts like their 'Cocktail for Good' are having a tangible impact on local charities and food banks. Growth on Their Own Terms: Discover the hands-on, entrepreneurial approach that Blen