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Mercato Metropolitano (MM), part of the MMovement, has unveiled a new initiative that will offer a local entrepreneur a rent-free tenure in a bid to encourage new business.
The marketplace, which runs a number of sites across London and is soon to open a new site in Ilford, is opening applications to secure a rent-free, three-month tenure in one of MM’s community markets.
The initiative is part of its new ‘dreaMM campaign’, and alongside the rent-free tenure, the selected winner will have access to free 1-2-1 consultations with the MM team, to help them create a business plan, source sustainable, local ingredients, receive branding and marketing advice, and much more.
Additionally, MM will support the winner with financial resources to help cover the fixed costs associated with the pop-up.
Andrea Rasca, Mercato Metropolitano’s CEO and chief leader of the MMovement, said: “Community building is at the very heart of the MM ethos. We believe in encouraging human interaction, in the spirit of community and engagement, and in creating thriving, vibrant urban communities, and what better way to do that than sitting around a table and sharing good food with friends and family?
“As part of this, we’re passionate about supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs who have innovative and sustainable business concepts, to help bring their dreaMM to life, and to make a living from their culinary craft.”
He added: “Here at Mercato Metropolitano, we’ve built a wonderful model which offers all of the tools that our trading partners need: we source the best ingredients, sort out the waste and recycling, the cleaning, and much more. All we ask them to do is cook.”
Submissions are open until 30 May, with applicants asked to answer a few key questions, either in writing or through a short video. Shortlisted entries will then be invited to pitch their concept in-person to a number of panellists at the dreaMM pitch day on Thursday 15 June 2023, following which a winner will be selected.
