Rainbow Fresh Produce is set to become the only greengrocer in Llandaff North
A NEW greengrocer set to open in Llandaff North will sell products from other independent local businesses to provide an alternative to big supermarket chains.
When Rainbow Fresh Produce opens on College Road on March 1 it will be the only greengrocers in Llandaff North.
The shop will be selling milk from a dairy in Barry, bread from a bakery in Cardiff, flowers from Six Bells Nursery in Pontypridd and eggs from farms across south and mid-Wales. It will even sell jams made by someone who lives on the same street as owner Jonathan Morgan.
“I consider myself sort of a native,” said Mr Morgan, who has lived in Llandaff North for 20 years.
“People locally know I live nearby and I’ll see them socially as well. People stop when they see me in here, neighbours come and introduce themselves.
Mr Morgan, 36, has run Rainbow Fresh Produce for a year, beginning as a market stall at the nearby pub, The Railway.
“The business was started in this area,” Mr Morgan said.
“It means a lot to a person to have an independent business. The large supermarkets could lose a handful of customers, and it makes no difference to them.
“But buying my eggs, say, from an independent farm locally, that’s a difference for them.
“At a big corporation, you could go in there every day of the week, and you’d never see the same member of staff or the same person.
“People like the thought that they are supporting someone local. They sort of adopt you, in a way.”
Dan Reed has run his business from home in Llandaff North for 12 years, making chilli products, sauces, jams and preserves. Mr Morgan’s new shop will be selling his products.
“I think it’s great,” said Mr Reed. “The range of products that he’s looking at having is phenomenal.
“I think the beauty of having a small independent shop is that if there are particular items that customers are looking for, then Jonathan would be more amenable to looking to stock them than the big shops.”
Mr Morgan knows it can be a difficult time for independent businesses but he has built up goodwill in the community, which he hopes will support him.
“Customers have to buy something first before they know your stuff is good. And getting the initial sale at the beginning can be very difficult,” he said.
One of the reasons his service is popular in the area is because he offers a free delivery service, which will continue alongside the shop.
He also hopes to keep his prices lower than nearby supermarkets.
Approximate price of shop products:
- Oranges – six for £2
- Mangoes – 80p
- Boxes of six chicken eggs – £2
- Boxes of six duck eggs – £4
College Road resident Carolyn Ford will be supporting him.
“The only shop we’ve got that’s close is Lidl. We will support Jonathan as much as we can,” she said.
Mr Morgan hopes the use of ‘Rainbow’ in the shop’s name will also promote inclusivity in the community: “Anyone is welcome to buy here. Anyone is welcome to work here,” he said.
“My young son came up with that name. When I first started buying stuff, he was only little, and he said ‘all the colours remind me of a rainbow’. So we went for that.”
Mr Morgan believes that despite tough times for the economy, people want to support local businesses instead of major chains thesedays.
“I think there’s a resurgence now,” he said.
“People are coming back to us, having had the supermarkets dominating for so long. Independent business are making a comeback.”
- Rainbow Fresh Produce’s opening times will be Monday-Sunday, 8:00am-5:30pm.
