NABMA Chief Executive David Catterall has visited Stuttgart to represent the UK at the international launch of Love Your Local Market, organised through the World Union of Wholesale Markets.
The visit was another proud moment for a campaign that began here in the UK. Love Your Local Market was created by NABMA in 2012 as a national celebration of markets, traders and the communities they serve. Fifteen years on, that celebration is now recognised across Europe and around the world, with the familiar Love Your Local Market identity seen in many countries as markets come together to champion local trade, fresh food, independent businesses and community life.
The UK last hosted the international launch in 2024, when the campaign was officially launched at the award-winning Chester Market on Saturday 4 May. That event welcomed market industry leaders and delegates from across the UK and Europe, underlining the UK’s continuing role in supporting and promoting the international growth of Love Your Local Market.
This year, the international focus moved to Stuttgart, where the city hosted the opening of Germany’s nationwide Weekly Market Day on 16 May. The event formed part of Germany’s Erlebe Deinen Markt celebrations and the wider Love Your Local Market campaign, with a programme focused on weekly markets, regional products, sustainability, food culture and the importance of local supply chains.
The international dimension of Love Your Local Market continues to be supported through WUWM, helping to connect market organisations and celebrations across borders. Germany’s campaign is part of the wider international LYLM movement, with thousands of markets taking part across Europe and beyond.
David’s visit was an opportunity to see the Love Your Local Market message in action beyond the UK, with the campaign standing alongside Germany’s own celebration of markets.
David Catterall, Chief Executive of NABMA, said:
“Love Your Local Market began in the UK through NABMA, so it is very special to see this celebration of markets now recognised and used by countries around the world.
“The familiar Love Your Local Market logo and message can now be seen in many places, but the purpose remains the same – celebrating markets, supporting traders, encouraging people to shop local and recognising the role markets play in bringing communities together.
“It was a privilege to represent NABMA in Stuttgart and to see how strongly the campaign continues to connect markets internationally through WUWM.”
In the UK, Love Your Local Market 2026 runs from Friday 15 May to Saturday 30 May, with markets across the country celebrating under this year’s campaign messages PROUDLY LOCAL. and MAKE IT A MARKET DAY.
A full feature on David’s visit to Stuttgart will appear in the LYLM Highlights edition of Market View in June, alongside the very best of Love Your Local Market celebrations from around the UK.
