Manples Market vendors slash costs with VCBN VT500 table fee

January 28, 2025 10:52 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Adorina Massing.

Market vendors at Manples have relocated, saving money by reducing daily costs from over VT3,000 to just VT500 at their new market venue at the Vanuatu Cooperatives and Business Network (VCBN).

The Evan Association, a group of 330 market vendors from different islands of Vanuatu, purchases and ships local produce from the islands to sell at the Manples marketplace.

Recently, the association met and drafted an agreement with VCBN to relocate to its office yard, located opposite Au Bon Marche (ABM) Manples. The new location offers a cheaper and more spacious area for vendors to sell their produce.

Chairman of the Evan Association, Peter Jeremiah, said the decision to move was driven by the overcrowded conditions and high management costs at their previous market venue.

“To meet costs imposed by the market authorities, selling produce on half a table costs VT300, while a full table is VT600,” he explained.

“Using the land space costs VT300. For overnight food storage, vendors pay VT400 for security and VT2,000 for tarps to cover the food.

“Access to toilets costs VT50, and water is charged at VT50 for half a bucket or VT100 for a full bucket.

“As vendors who ship in local produce from the islands, we also face additional shipment and transportation costs.”

The total daily expense for a vendor ranged from approximately VT3,100 to VT3,450 at Manples.

“It was too expensive and made it difficult to earn a profit after covering all these costs,” he said. “The new area is much cheaper, as the only payment is VT500 for table fees, with free security, water, and toilet access.”

Mr. Jeremiah said the association has continued to negotiate with farmers from islands such as Santo, Malekula, Tanna, Maewo, Epi, Ambrym, and Pentecost to supply produce for sale.

Regarding waste disposal, the chairman revealed plans to meet with the Municipal to sign a contract for rubbish disposal at a designated area.