Sheffield shops: Veteran Sheffield markets baked potato man sees surge in support after SpudBros opens
A veteran baked potato man on a Sheffield market is enjoying a boost after SpudBros opened in the city centre.
Nick Shepherd, of The Humble Spud, took to Facebook to announce the outdoor market on The Moor would be operating six-days-a-week until Christmas.
He would be working Wednesday to Saturday, “weather and health permitting,” until the middle of December.
Mr Shepherd has sold spuds on Sheffield’s markets for 33 years. The Humble Spud charges between £2.70 and £5.20, with 20p off for paying cash.
Last week, 400 people queued up for the launch of TikTok famous SpudBros on Fargate. SpudBros charges from £5 to £10.50.
Mr Shepherd ran a poll asking if he should ‘copy SpudBros and add crispy onions’.
Some 48 per cent of the 76 respondents ticked: ‘Why copy pretenders to your crown?’
Responding online, Sonia Palmer said: “I’m so pleased to find you and to know you’re still on The Moor. I work in town on a Wednesday so I’ll defo be dropping by for my spuds.”
James Hitchen added: “Great prices, even better food.”
In 2023, Mr Shepherd said he had lost half his income when the outdoor market was banned from The Moor on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Owner, NewRiver issued the order to “further enhance the goods and services on offer at The Moor for the local community, in parallel with the council’s own regeneration agenda for the city as a whole.”
In recent years it has allowed the outdoor market to return six days-a-week in the run up to Christmas.
The Star ran a Humble Spud v SpudBros taste test here.