Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Friday, 6 December 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Good Market officially opened in Battaramulla on 28 November. The new shop at 137, Pannipitiya Road, Battaramulla includes fresh organic fruits and vegetables, natural food, and body, home, and garden products from more than 130 Good Market approved enterprises, home delivery services, a space for community meetups and events, and the Farm Gate Café, a juice, coffee, and snack bar operated by a Good Market community member.
The new outlet is a social franchise operated by David Pieris Global Ventures Ltd (DPGV), a David Pieris Company and a Good Market approved enterprise that specialises in organic fruit and vegetable products under the name Eliya. People living in Battaramulla, Thalawathugoda, Pelawatte, Malabe, Kaduwala, Pita-Kotte, Nawala, and Rajagiriya can now enjoy Good Market community products and events in their own neighbourhood. The shop and café are open every day of the week from 8am to 8pm.
According to co-founder Achala Samaradivakara, “Good Market is based on the idea that we create the world we live in. We make decisions every day that affect our health, loved ones, community, and environment. If we stop and think about the consequences of our actions, we have the opportunity to make better choices and create a better world.”
“If you visit the Saturday Good Market event in Colombo, you are only seeing the tip of the iceberg,” explains Achala Samaradivakara. “Good Market is a platform for anyone who cares about people and the planet. There is space for everyone: conscious consumers, artists, performers, home gardeners, voluntary organisations, university start-ups, rural producers, and established businesses.”
David Pieris Global Ventures CEO Suhashini Chandramohan added, “We are delighted to bring Good Market back to Battaramulla, where it has its original roots. This will allow people in the area to pick up the organic and natural products synonymous with the Good Market without having to fight traffic into Colombo. We at DPGV are committed to the organic way of life as is reflected in our products and look forward to welcoming like-minded customers to our shop.”
Speaking at the event, Good Market vendor Buddhika Gunasekera said, “Good Market gives us the opportunity to reach people and create awareness of our products. We are now proud to say that we have a shop to sell our products in Battaramulla as well, thanks to David Pieris Global Ventures.” “We are hoping for more Good Market franchises around the country,” she added.
All farm products at the shop are either certified organic by an accredited third-party certifier or verified under an organic participatory guarantee system (PGS) that is recognised by IFOAM Organics International. Consumers are encouraged to join for PGS farm visits to meet the farmers and learn more about organic production and verification.
Good Market is a curated community of social enterprises and responsible businesses that are ‘good for people and good for the planet.’ It started in 2012 as a weekly marketplace event with 33 vendors. There are now nearly 1,200 enterprises from more than 36 countries on the Good Market global platform (www.goodmarket.global).
The first shop was opened in 2014 to make organic, natural, and eco-friendly products more affordable and accessible, expand market opportunities for Good Market approved enterprises, and provide space for community gatherings. Good Market is a not-for-profit social enterprise, which means all revenue is reinvested to scale impact and expand services for the community. New retail outlets are being developed according to a social franchise model.
