Day 2 - UK

Amazingly at 6am almost everyone is outside the hotel ready to go to Spitalfields Market. On route we pick up Eric, who turns out to be a larger than life character who has started a social empire from humble beginnings five years ago and with £40 of fresh fruit and vegetables. Currently his enterprise stands at:

• Approximately 12 community shops
• Schools training programme
• Community café
• Curriculum development to be rolled out to other Schools throughout England
• Healthy cooking courses
• Community dinners

I am sure there are others in development and each one of these is based on a simple premise of healthy eating by the provision of fresh fruit & vegetables and associated activities. Eric’s ability to extend his basic offering across and up the value chain is impressive as if he had been advised by McKinsey’s Strategists and yet Eric is a down to earth ‘regular’ guy.

We met the various people that play a vital role within the Eric’s venture:

• market traders
• community shop volunteers
• buyer/driver
• Eric’s running mate and venture partner

What is amazing is how Eric manages to enthuse his passion onto others including the people at the restaurant at the market – they respect him, support his venture and get involved in his activities.