Manchester’s Finest, an independent media platform with a sole focus on promoting the independent businesses of Manchester, has teamed up with leading community convenience retailer, Co-op, to continue to support struggling businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hospitality industry was hit with a massive blow last week as many independent bars and restaurants were forced to close their doors and temporarily cease trading. Whilst some independent venues remain open, they are understandably struggling to make sales as the government advise social distancing.
This, as we know, will be affecting the city and the businesses within it for the coming months. Manchester’s Finest has partnered with Co-op, which has just opened a store in the heart of Ancoats, to work together over the next few months in providing a platform for independent businesses to promote their offering, create awareness of their change in service, tell their story and endeavour to provide a platform of positivity which businesses can utilise as much as possible.
Alison Jones, Co-op’s Customer Director, said: “Co-op is very proud of its rich Mancunian heritage and as a community retailer has an important role to play in supporting the city’s abundance of independent bars, restaurants, clubs and shops. Manchester’s Finest is providing a vitally important service in helping such a wide variety of businesses talk directly to their customers and we hope that a steady flow of positive information will mean they are in good shape to weather the current storm.”
Manchester’s Finest has over 215,000 followers across social media platforms and is key to the city’s independent businesses. The media platform has spent the last 10 years establishing a relationship with business owners in Manchester and has worked hard to provide a place for them to showcase their offering.
Steven Pankhurst, Director at Manchester’s Finest, says “We are passionate about Manchester’s thriving independent scene, whether that be bars and restaurants or galleries and shops. We have worked tirelessly to give these businesses a voice and as an independent ourselves, we know the importance of supporting each other and doing whatever we can to help. It’s amazing to be able to work with Co-op, as a likeminded business, to ensure we can make this happen.
Lee Isherwood, Director at Manchester’s Finest, says “We founded Finest with one simple goal in mind, to support the independent ecology of Manchester. Co-op stepping in to sponsor our content over the coming months, in these uncertain times, shows they too share that goal, and it’s testament to their ethos and their team that they are showing support to not only those businesses, but ours as well.”
Co-op will sponsor all Manchester’s Finest independent business content over the next two months to ensure that the city’s independent community stays alive and has the support it needs to thrive again.
