Offering boutique produce and products, free recipes and old-school service, the Sunshine Coast’s newest family-owned business has it all.
The Big Top shopping centre’s new ‘food hub’ is a place where you can shop local, get seasoned fruit and veggie knowledge and expand your culinary repertoire.
But it’s the hard-to-find international stock coupled with a traditional milk bar and deli that sets Maroochydore’s newest business apart from its rivals.
The Grocer’s co-owner Janine Burford said the team was beyond excited to open shop to offer the greater community “something a little different”.
“People have been tracking us down since opening, so that’s a fantastic sign,” the local businesswoman said.
“It’s great to have a shop full of produce, where everywhere you turn there’s amazing fruit and veg, amazing condiments, a great deli and a milk bar that offers things like real malt milkshakes.
“We are definitely filling a gap in the Big Top.
“It certainly feels good to open since all the mess that’s been the last three years … it’s nice to see places opening again and to be one of them.”
With two local families behind the business, Ms Burford said offering traditional and quality service to the community was extremely important and something that was missing in other retail outlets.
“Caleb Shaw and family and Glyn Morgan/Janine Burford and family and my nephew from Sydney are behind The Grocer,” she said.
“None of our staff are young because I think it’s important to offer that old-fashioned service where you have a yarn to someone and connect with them.
“I hope that’s something the community is picking up on as well.”
She said all the staff really knew their stuff and were all keen cooks too.
“Mick has spent 60 years in the produce business and we are so fortunate to have him because he knows so much, like exactly when things are in season,” she said.
“Deb ran The Fruit Shed for 14 years … they both have so much experience and are brilliant.
“All the staff have extensive experience in the fresh produce industry and are ready to share their knowledge and recipes.”
Mrs Burford said the most enjoyable thing so far was the customers coming in and sharing their stories about some of the interesting and rare items on offer – and how to cook them.
“I met a Polish woman the other day who got quite excited, telling me it had been so hard to find these ingredients, so she rushed home to make a Polish potato salad,” she said.
“Another woman was so excited with finding the kohlrabi (a German turnip or turnip cabbage) and I didn’t know what you did with it, so the next day she brought me in a lentil and kohlrabi soup so I could taste it.
“If you are into food it’s a good place to work and shop.”
It was the desire to support their sister businesses with fresh produce that motivated the owners to open their latest venture.
“We are involved in Raw and Rice in Noosa and Mooloolaba, Nurcha and Luvin’ Life – which are plant-based – so it just made sense,” she said.
“We also support local community by offering wholesale prices to other local businesses.”
The fresh fruit and veggies come in daily from their many local suppliers, which according to Mrs Burford was a continually growing list.
“A farmer from Roys Road recently wandered in with a whole lot of watermelons for us,” she said.
“The milk bar offers the Kuluin-based Wonky Loaf delivered daily … we get queues of people coming in first thing in the morning to get their wonky loaf.
“We have most amazing local people producing the most amazing products.
“This local lady makes this amazing lemon paste for example, which is used for all types of cooking.
“There’s some pretty unique stuff, I’m pretty impressed with what’s around. I’m also trying to get local producers to sell their stuff here too.”
The self-confessed foodie said she was so “mad” on condiments, she has dedicated an entire section to them.
“You should see my fridge,” she chuckled.
Find The Grocer at Shop 2, 12-20 in the Big Top on Ocean Street, Maroochydore.
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