Stretford Foodhall, a local favourite that’s been at the heart of an entire town centre’s regeneration, has announced its shocking and sudden closure.
The business, which is part retailer and part food hall, said that it has been a ‘tortuous few years’ and that it will be closing for good next week.
Stretford Foodhall is part of the General Stores group, perhaps best-known for operating Ancoats General Store.
While the bulk of the business has always been about crafting the region’s ‘coolest cornershops’, where you can browse local produce and products alongside your usual essentials, Stretford Foodhall was a new offering entirely.
A huge portion of their site on the edge of Stretford Mall was given over to a dining space, with an ever-rotating selection of local traders taking up residence in the kitchens.
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Stretford Foodhall was quickly award-winning and has often been praised for helping to kick-start the area’s regeneration.
But they have now written that they have ‘no more left in the tank’ and will close for good on Sunday 11 February.
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In a lengthy statement, signed by founder Mital Morar, they wrote that they had had problems from their opening in 2019, when they were ‘too busy with not enough seats’.
Egg & Co was a recent trader at Stretford Foodhall. Credit: The Manc GroupWaffle Kart also had a residency at Stretford Foodhall. Credit: The Manc Group
Stretford Foodhall then said it never properly recovered from the impact of Covid, which struck less than a year after its launch.
Mital’s open letter stated: “We are acutely aware, on this journey of survival, we have let some people down. We apologise unreservedly for this and hope to make right one day.”
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It continued by praising its ‘individual and amazing’ staff, and thanking all the many food traders, pop ups, breweries, and artists who have been part of the journey over the last five years.
Stretford Foodhall’s statement concluded: “As a Manchester born and bred business, local and independent, our confidence and Ikigai (as Masako once taught us) has been knocked. It has been a tortuous few years. But we get up and fight daily. Whilst we are closing, we haven’t given up. We look forward to serving you again one day… for now see us at @generalstores_.”
The news of the closure comes less than a year after the group shut down its Sale Foodhall.
It comes with great sadness and torment that we have decided to close on Sunday 11th February 2024
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Opening in 2019 to much risk and applaud we very quickly had problems! We were too busy, didn’t have enough seats and had to evolve very quickly. A good problem! For all the naysayers, Stretford supported us and we couldn’t have been happier.
We hadn’t even traded one year and along came covid and changed all that. We haven’t ever really recovered. Whilst trading through, winning awards, doing takeaway food and coffee, we evolved as much as we could with what we could post covid. Entering inflation, cost of living crisis and this crazy enduring energy situation… we have no more left in the tank.
We continue to be involved with the GMCA dialogue to support them in lobbying government for change in the hospitality sector. Too many friends are suffering and we stand with you.
We are very concious of our strengths and weaknesses. We are very concious of the current environment and we have tried our best with all the headwinds to make a go of it and keep going for the greater good. We are grateful for the support from our customers, our relationships with food traders and suppliers. We appreciate BRUNTWOOD who helped where they could and we have no doubt the new and final vision will deliver the goods. Sadly, our part in this journey cannot continue.
We are acutely aware, on this journey of survival, we have let some people down. We apologise unreservedly for this and hope to make right one day. As you know, our roots are embedded in retail. We will continue on this journey and navigate this tough environment there.
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This message is written by Mital, as Proprietor. This closure isn’t a reflection of our colleagues in branch, they too have endured a tough ride of uncertainty and changing decisions day to day. We have had to become an operation we don’t aspire to be and this too cannot continue. We Thank You for your service and will support your roles and continuity as best we can. You are all individual and amazing and we wish you only the best for the future.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all the food traders, creatives, pop ups, breweries, artists and more who have engaged and explored this road with us in Stretford. Our warmest wishes to our business neighbours and community friends who have humbled us with your friendship. We will meet again one day.
As a Manchester born and bred business, local and independent, our confidence and Ikigai (as Masako once taught us) has been knocked. It has been a tortuous few years. But we get up and fight daily. Whilst we are closing, we haven’t given up. We look forward to serving you again one day… for now see us at @generalstores_
Thank You Thank You… Mital & Family
Featured image: Publicity picture
News
70% of North West residents think Andy Burnham has ‘done well’ as Greater Manchester Mayor
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that 70% of North West residents think Andy Burnham has ‘done well’ in his job as Greater Manchester Mayor.
It this point, it’s hardly a secret that Andy Burnham’s run in the upcoming Makerfield by-election is about more than just becoming an MP, with expectations that – if he wins, of course – he will go on to challenge Keir Starmer for the position of Prime Minister.
But do Brits believe Burnham has what it takes for the top job? Well, YouGov has set out to answer this question with a new survey, seeing how much people think he’s succeeded in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The survey found that Brits tend to believe Burnham has ‘done well’ in his current job as Mayor, with 44% of survey respondents nationwide saying so, in comparison to just 12% who’ve gained the impression he’s done poorly and a further 44% saying they are unsure.
70% of North West residents think Andy Burnham has ‘done well’ as Greater Manchester Mayor / Credit: GMCA | Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)
Although this poll is, admittedly, not a large enough sample to examine Burnham’s reputation in Greater Manchester alone, it was discovered that an impressive 71% of those in the wider North West region think he’s done a good job, while just 14% believe the opposite.
The most interesting part about this statistic is that Burnham’s reputation as an effective Mayor appears to be spread across political parties – even somewhat conflicting one.
It includes 66% of those who voted Labour in 2024, as well as 56% of those who backed the Lib Dems and 51% of those who voted Green. Conservative voters also tend to believe Burnham has been a good Mayor, by 41% to 19%, while Reform UK voters are split 33% to 31% on his effectiveness.
Britons tend to think it's unclear what Andy Burnham stands for, even if more feel it's clear what he believes than what Keir Starmer believes
Around four in 10 Brits (39-43%) describe Burnham as being competent, likeable, and decisive, and around 27% see him as trustworthy.
Whether he is ready for a promotion to Prime Minister in the future though, now that divides the public.
According to YouGov’s findings, a third of Brits (33%) believe Burnham looks like a leader ‘in waiting’, but this is then matched by the same amount who feel he doesn’t look like a Prime Minister at present.
While the public might not be sold on Burnham as a Prime Minister just yet, what can be seen is that opinion on whether he is up to the job compare favourably to current opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Transfers: Manchester United reportedly in the race for Rafael Leao as asking price is revealed
Danny Jones
In the latest transfer news coming out of Manchester, Man United are reportedly set to make the first move in an effort to sign Serie A star Rafael Leao after AC Milan are said to have ‘offered’ the wantaway winger to Premier League rivals Arsenal.
After being linked with MUFC on and off in the past, this could shape up to be a tasty tug of war if all rumours are to be believed.
But a recent interview by Leao may have pricked up ears over at Old Trafford and Carrington:
Do you think there are some hints being dropped here?…
Speaking to London-born and now Manchester-headquartered (interesting…) streetwear and jewellery brand Cernucci on their new podcast, the Portuguese international confessed to presenter Fred Buckley that he spent much of his childhood watching Man United, and still does to this day.
While he also admitted he likes Arsenal, adding even more fuel to the fire of the links with the Gunners, he also named Cristiano Ronaldo as his idol; either way, the ‘Rossoneri’ are believed to be asking for between £43-50 million for the former Sporting and Lille player.
A teammate of his with the national squad and having starred for major European sides, winning silverware – a Serie A title and Italian Super Cup, as well as a UEFA Nations League with Portugal – he’s evidently looking to try and emulate his fellow compatriots’ success moving forward.
Now 26 years old, he’s at a crucial juncture in his career, and despite being criticised for his work rate and efforts off the ball at times, not to mention blowing somewhat hot and cold in and around a fair few injury problems, the next big money move feels almost inevitable as he approaches his ‘prime’ years.
As you can see, many Milan fans have seemingly turned on him already after he made his plans to depart rather publicly, which has also seen him pop up on the radar of several other Champions League competitors this summer.
One such alternative suitor outside of English football is Galatasaray, with multiple Italian and Turkish outlets claiming that the club are the only team to be drawing up a ‘formal proposal’ thus far.
Journalist Matteo Moretto does state, however, that no official offer has been made as yet.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd February 2024 
