In the heart of Dalston, vibrant Ridley Road market is home to thousands of stalls selling all manner of foods.

Among the stallholders is Gregory Karras, a 67-year-old stalwart of the market, who has been serving his community for 44 years. Karras sells spices such as paprika and cumin and bags of rice and nuts as well as many different condiments and saucs.

Originally from Athens, he has lived in Hackney since he arrived in England, which is where he came across Ridley Road Market. He had his stall license within three months of arrival.

The market isn’t just a place of trading for Karras: it’s a testament to his resilience and commitment to providing for his family. He is a father of three who has been happily married for 46 years. He was the first of his family to arrive to London, despite being new to the country he quickly found his feet and created a successful business. He had his stall license within three months of arrival.

“I was 21 when I first arrived in the UK, I was afraid that I’d struggle as English isn’t my first language, but Hackney council really helped me find my feet, they are the ones who gave me this opportunity and I will be forever grateful. I did get homesick quite often, but the other stall owners welcomed me with open arms, and we become a family.”

Karras acknowledges the challenges markets face. With the rise of supermarkets, “Now there are too many supermarkets. It’s not many businesses you can make a living. You have to work hard: it has to be your own product, without it, you will fail and struggle to make a living.”

Karras recalls a time when the streets were busting with shoppers, and there were no gaps in the stalls. “Back in the day, the streets used to be packed; there never used to be any gaps in these stores. Before, you would buy products for £250 and make £700 a day. Now, you buy the products for £2,000 and only take home £50,” he explains, highlighting the stark realities of the changing market dynamics.

Despite the challenges, he enjoys the loyalty he has built with his customers, many of whom have become like family over the years. “My customers are loyal and have come to my store for years and years; they are family.” .

Karras dedication to his customers extends to ethical sourcing practices. He emphasises that the goods he sells are sourced ethically and sustainably. He carefully vets his suppliers, opting to only work with wholesalers who share his value of fairness and integrity. “When I buy my products from wholesalers, I make sure they are ethically sourced, with consideration for the workers and the environment. I will do what’s right for our community and the planet.”

He adds: “If everyone can buy then everyone can sell it. No profit, no success.”