Here’s to you for showing up on the KERB this year – we appreciate you and wish you the most delicious of holidays!
(big thanks to @famousfrankfade for modelling)
It’s been another big one – for us and this city. We’ve grown all arms of our business, hit the half decade mark in October and dished up more than 1.5 million lunches across our markets.
Here’s some 2017 milestones and a look back on the year…
Finding and giving a platform to new talent has been our MO since Day One. As we grow we are taking this more to heart than ever. This year we launched our all-new inKERBator programme. Every three months we invite 9 newbies to trade with us ( at #inKERBatorTuesdays, West India Quay), and provide consultation, mentoring, promotion and practical support. Those who pass with flying colours graduate as fully fledged KERBanists, ready to grab all of the other opportunities to trade with us and go out there and do great things for London food.
We’ve graduated 26 new traders from our inKERBator this year. Look out for bBatch #4 in February 2018. (And if you’ve got a budding new food idea look out for new KERB Workshops next year).
FIVE big changes this year: we added a brand new lunch market (KERB London Bridge), went fortnightly at Paddington, added an extra day on West India Quay to host our inKERBators, gave our 34 trader fleet at KERB Camden Market a shiny new rebuild and launched our first bricks and mortar site, KERB Counter right next to it.
Where the real kerbside magic happens. Our public events are an injection of great food and drink, music, spirit and good times that celebrate the incredible diversity of this city! And we’ve had more this year than ever: from our Burns Hootenanny in January, to The Bucket List fried chicken battle in May (our first competitive event); our annual two week Alchemy South Asian invasion on the Southbank and an Americana hoedown called ‘Noshville‘; a Guilty Pleasures themed open air weekender in July; a ‘Livin’ on The Veg‘ vegan rumble in August and then our 5th birthday bonanza in October to top off the year.
Our Private Events arm generated almost £1 million for our traders this year across 150 events. Highlights include: catering the Grand Prix at Silverstone Racecourse, a 9,000 Excel Adobe conference, Christmas Social and securing venue listings with the Natural History Museum, Printworks and the Roundhouse for 2018.
Our kerbs are crawling with stories that need to be told about food and this city – so we made a podcast. Calling upon roving reporter, Robin Leeburn (of Luardos fame) who grabbed the mic and hasn’t stopped spinning great content since. KERB Life pulls together some of the great voices, minds and stories that make the London street food scene so much more than just a bit of meat in a bun.
Look out for KERB Life Series 2 next year, or catch up on the first one here.
The first of our panel discussions on The Future of London Food happened in October., bringing great insights on where street food is going from here. Food courts? Pitching up globally? Stronger women’s voices? A move away from burgers??
Our expert panel threw down some gems. More to come next year and watch “The Future of London Food: How street food beat the trend label and where to next?” here.
Community
Extra bits that we love doing have begun this year. From ‘KERB Cooks’ sessions with Castle Haven kids (below); to a partnership with TLG, cementing work placements for young offenders on our food stalls; a StreetSmart specials week in the summer, plus Christmas lunch at the Gherkin (come down tomorrow!); and a partnership with Street Child for next year. And we’ve got an even meatier project in the pan for 2018.
Thanks to everyone who’s come along to any of the events or markets we put on in 2017 – we love making the streets of London more delicious and love that you’re helping us achieve this.
Here’s to more next year!
KERB X
