Young Londoners are set to transform into market traders for a day as the annual Young Marketeers Winter Soup Sale returns to Borough Market this February. Secondary school pupils from across the capital will take over the historic market, swapping textbooks for cooking utensils to serve up delicious homemade soup and fresh bread to lunchtime crowds.
Hands-On Learning Experience
The event, scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, will see students aged 11 to 16 operating their own market stalls in Borough Market's Green Market between 12pm and 2pm. These young entrepreneurs will be trading alongside professional market sellers, gaining invaluable real-world experience while raising money for a worthy cause.
Charitable Focus
All proceeds from the soup sale will be donated to Plan Zheroes, a London-based charity that redistributes quality surplus food to organisations supporting vulnerable communities across the capital. This partnership helps address both food waste and food poverty in innovative ways.
Preparation and Training
In preparation for the event, participating pupils have undergone comprehensive training. They attended a hands-on session at Bread Ahead, where they learned ciabatta baking techniques from expert bakers. Additionally, they developed warming soup recipes in collaboration with School Food Matters, ensuring their offerings are both delicious and seasonal.
Working closely with the Borough Market team, the students have mastered essential skills including:
- Food preparation and recipe development
- Pricing strategies and cost management
- Customer service and communication
- Teamwork and collaborative working
Educational Programme Benefits
The Winter Soup Sale forms part of the long-running Young Marketeers programme, a partnership between Borough Market and School Food Matters. This initiative provides pupils with practical experience in growing, cooking, and selling food while promoting important values.
The programme aims to:
- Build confidence and entrepreneurial skills
- Encourage seasonal eating and local food appreciation
- Highlight the importance of reducing food waste
- Connect young people with their food sources
Sustainability Commitment
In keeping with Borough Market's environmental values, the soup will be served in compostable containers without any single-use plastic cutlery. This approach demonstrates the market's commitment to sustainability while educating young participants about eco-friendly practices.
Partnership Impact
The event builds on Borough Market's decade-long partnership with Plan Zheroes. Since summer 2024 alone, Young Marketeers sales have supported the charity's redistribution efforts. The wider partnership has achieved significant results, including:
- Saving over 150 tonnes of food from landfill
- Providing the equivalent of more than 360,000 meals
- Supporting vulnerable communities across London
As a charitable trust, Borough Market places education and community engagement at the heart of its operations. This event exemplifies how food can serve as a powerful tool for connecting young Londoners with their local food systems and market economies.
The Young Marketeers Winter Soup Sale represents an exciting opportunity for students to develop practical skills while contributing to their community. It showcases how educational initiatives can create meaningful impact beyond the classroom, fostering both personal development and social responsibility among London's younger generation.
