A NEW business has expanded from a market stall to a new shop in Malton.

The Purple Carrot is a vegan and vegetarian deli, in Market Street, run by husband and wife team Rafal and Kate Zaleska.

Set up in 2003, the Purple Carrot first came to Malton as a market stall, attending the monthly markets and annual Harvest and Food Lovers Festivals.

They expanded to Mind for Cooking attending other food markets across North Yorkshire and further afield.

Kate said: “Thanks to selling on the farmers’ markets we’ve cultivated a growing number of loyal customers and opening a shop is a natural development of the business.

“The Purple Carrot is going to be community centred place for those who love delicious, authentic, beautiful food that just happens to be vegetarian and vegan. I got involved in the food industry out of necessity - I wanted to be with my daughter, Ania as she grew up and running a food stall at a local farmers’ market was ideal.

“I’ve been involved in cooking for more than 15 years, and The Purple Carrot is the latest project in our family’s culinary journey.

“We believe Malton - the food capital of Yorkshire - is the perfect location.

“We sell more at Malton Farmers’ Market than anywhere else we trade, and there is incredible support in the town for new food enterprises.”

Tom Naylor-Leyland, on behalf of the landlord Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate, said: “With increasing demand for vegan and vegetarian food, and spurred on by their success at the food markets, it’s heart-warming to see Mind for Cooking putting down roots here in Yorkshire’s Food Capital and opening The Purple Carrot – Malton’s first solely vegan and vegetarian shop and deli.”