Chief still has Norwich Market faith despite stall closure

Josh Worley, who is chairman of Norwich Market Traders' Association and ran Water and Earth for two years, has been forced to step down from his role after his stall closed.

Mr Worley, who set the group's constitution which says members must have a business on the market, will be replaced by Toby Westcarr of Sir Toby's Beers - who was his deputy - until an AGM in March will decide his successor.

However, he plans to continue championing the market from the outside despite saying his own stall had become "a bit of a drag".

Mr Worley said: "It's been tricky since we took over from Number 29 Natural Soaps in 2021.

"We made a good start but we didn't really know what we were doing so we just continued to do what they had been doing.

"Then we went in to zero waste products which gave us a niche as Earnie's in Magdalen Street were the only others doing it.

"But business slowed so we started to make our own products and the stall was only really washing its face.

"I still think the market is a great part of Norwich and I still want to do other things from outside to advocate for everything that makes it great. It just doesn't make sense for us anymore."

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Now Water and Earth will move online as it focuses on a new range of products made from upcycled coffee granules from Norwich's independent coffee shops, such as Kofra, Strangers Coffee and Little Red Roaster.

Products will include soaps and scrubs with the granules, which would usually end up in landfill, at their heart.

Mr Worley added: "It's not the end for the business, this is a rebirth.

"We've had great support from Norwich Bid to make this an even bigger project where we can tell our customers honestly there is no nasties and no chemicals in any products.

"For the market to be taken seriously it needs a chair who has a stall, I believed that when I wrote it so I think it's right to step down."