UP CLOSE: CJ’s Events Warwickshire, the family-run business behind Warwick Food Festival
By James Smith 3rd Jul 2023
Known for running weekly markets in Kenilworth and Warwick, as well as the annual food festivals in both towns, CJ's Events Warwickshire has continued to grow following the pandemic.
The family-run business was launched in the late 1990's by husband and wife Carol and John who ran car boot sales at Leamington Rugby Club.
Then in 2013 the company ran its first food market in Leamington's Regent Court, bringing local traders directly to workers at the businesses in the area during lunch time.
Two years later CJ's won the tender to run Warwick District Council's regular markets and has looked after them ever since.
"It's been a snowball from there," said CJ's director Jamie Walker - son of Carol and John.
"We started with Warwick and Kenilworth weekly markets and Leamington farmers market which has since become the Covent Quarter Market and takes place once a month.
"Then we started doing the food festivals and have grown from there.
"We started getting more contracts over the years and here we are today."
As well as still running the regular markets and food festivals in the area, CJ's also now operates events in Burton-on-Trent, Solihull, Lichfield, Nuneaton and Brindley Place in Birmingham.
The company - named after Jamie's mum Carol Jane - employs seven full time staff and up to 20 part time staff.
And the company's growth is particularly impressive given the impact of the pandemic on retailers across the country.
"Financially there has been some negative impact," Jamie explained.
"We had to close down completely for six weeks and then were able to reopen, doing Warwick and Kenilworth for food-only markets with lots of restrictions of course.
"We were then used as a case study by the Government to see how markets could be opened safely following the pandemic.
"Since then, our traders have continued to do well and footfall has returned to what it was before Covid.
"I think people really want to support local independents, rather than big chains, so that has really helped."
Having recently hosted the incredibly successful Warwick Food Festival, CJ's is now looking ahead to the Kenilworth instalment on July 30.
And while last year's event attracted a large crowd, Jamie is encouraging locals who have not been to Kenilworth Food Festival to come along and see what it is all about.
"There is something there for everyone," he said.
"There's food, events, kid's activities, live entertainment, bars, street food and local produce.
"Even if you are there for just 10 minutes you can buy something and take it home - it's not just about being there all day. We really want to get a range so there is something for everyone."
For more information on CJ's Events Warwickshire, follow this link to the website.
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