An award-winning family business has proved that local knowledge and networks are best in tough times.
Ben and Georgie McKeown have ensured that goods – from fresh food to groceries – have been delivered to doorsteps on the Sunshine Coast and northern Brisbane.
The duo started FreshBox almost a decade ago when home-delivered boxes of local, organic and ecologically-grown food was a novelty.
The couple met every farmer and sourced all produce directly, often the same day that they delivered it.
The business has since won leadership awards for creating a cooperative network of ethical, sustainable producers throughout the Sunshine Coast region and beyond.
Ordering is from a virtual supermarket of quality, organic groceries and goodies, from the pantry to the laundry, including most things from milks to ready-made meals.
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Ben, who has a background in permaculture, said building FreshBox had been rewarding through the challenges of the pandemic.
“We set out to make life simpler for people seeking healthier, better options,” he said.
“We created a Mecca for certified and organically grown food, fair trade, plant based, sulphate free and natural products – we cater for gluten, wheat, nut and dairy free needs and we proudly support 100 per cent Australian.
“Many people at first thought eating organically was expensive but, increasingly, people care about knowing where their food comes from, how far and how it’s grown.
“Covid-19 also changed how people see convenience and we’ve grown our customer base and reach to Brisbane, creating more jobs and giving local farmers and producers more reliable income than relying on markets.
“We’re really excited about how we’ve created a big family of local people on the land and made eating well easier for many families.”
As chain stores and supermarkets struggled to stock shelves, FreshBox secured a supply of organic fruits and vegetables and produce to deliver daily to the Sunshine Coast, hinterland and north Brisbane.
“We are big enough to keep your household fed without the hassle of going to shopping centres, but small enough to know your favourite groceries, meals, fridge items, cleaning products and more, and we can reliably deliver direct to your door,” Ben said.
FreshBox is an entirely online business at FreshBox.
