Pop-up shops/markets are popular amongst social enterprises due to their relatively low start-up costs and their ability to access identified communities in need.

They are also used to promote areas that are struggling with retail uptake or that require increased community engagement i.e. pop-up food markets, food truck parks etc.

Social Enterprise Pop-ups are guided by identified values such as increased food access to marginalised communities, subsidised food, fair price to farmers, healthy food education, employment opportunities, zero waste etc. These models can often by co-funded by philanthropy, government or business to enable new models and social support structures to be tested and established.

Social food enterprises have a strong community engagement focus, and thus the agile nature of a pop-up works to their advantage and enables them to position themselves amongst their target communities.

Stories / Resources

The Community Grocer – The Community Grocer improves fresh affordable food access for people living in public and social housing. They do this by running weekly fruit and vegetable markets on-site at social housing locations. Their vision is to have a Community Grocer running every day of the week in a public housing location across Melbourne.

A free lunch is provided as part of the pop-up location and food donations are supported by SecondBite. The aim of the Community Grocer is also to work with customers to provide access to a diverse array of fresh food that is culturally appropriate and relevant to the community it serves.

Farms to Families, through Food Bank