Jamie Gillan with his son Albert as the stall opened in Hampstead

A GREENGROCER is starting up his new family business in the area where he grew up – hoping to sell the best quality fruit and veg to the community.

Jamie Gillan, has greengrocer blood in his family so it is no surprise he has decided to take the opportunity to launch his new family business Gillan & Sons in the Hampstead Community Market on the high street.

He said: “My grandfather was a greengrocer and had a stall in Camden Town many years ago – in the alley next to Marks and Spencer where there used to be market pitches.

“Greengrocery was something that had been in my family but not something I had done growing up but it’s definitely in my blood.”

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Mr Gillan grew up in Belsize Park, attending New End Primary School and William Ellis secondary school, before a career of working in the City.

He said: “I was in the City till about 2015 – I was out in Asia for a couple of years and I came back and was made redundant and a mate of mine was running a greengrocer stall down the West End and I went to work with him. When I got back into working in the City I decided it wasn’t for me. I love talking to people – I’m quite a people person and I’m not averse to the fresh air. I’ve done it before I can do it again.

“There is a lot of competition around here but we’re on the high street, there’s foot traffic and if they shop with their eyes and like what they see they’re likely to try.

“I’m not one of these fussy people who won’t let people touch or smell the produce because it’s an experience you’re looking at with your eyes you’re buying with your nose.

“When I was selling before it was pure volume, it was an area that was densely populated by offices. When you’re in a more residential area like here the challenges you face are needing the top-class produce to compete against larger more established stores.

“Being part of this community market is great because we’ve got all of the different products – the meat, the cheese, the fish and us – the grocers, you’ve got everything in one place.

“I know the other grocers in the area have tried to replicate what we offer but it’s polished and not personal whereas here we get to know you by name and vice versa. It’s our family business and we want to be a part of the community – if people buy into us I anticipate it being a good journey.”

Mr Gillan has three sons, one of them, Albert, was helping him out on opening day but the ambition is for all the kids to get involved.

He said: “It’s Gillan & Sons so we’re literally all hands on deck getting the boys involved. Being back in the area again is very nostalgic – I’ve got a lot of family and friends still in the area.

“My boys and I have just spent the last five days leafleting all over Hampstead and I was pointing out to my boys my old primary school, where I used to go shopping or anecdotal stories of being chased by a policeman as a kid.

“So many memories have come back, and I’m positive and bullish about the whole situation.”