Congratulations to the 2010 Greengrocer of the Month Award recipients.

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July 2010 – The Village Grocer

Residents of Sydney’s Northern beaches have an impressive award winning place from which to source premium quality fruit and vegetables -The Village Grocer in Balgowlah.

Opened just over a year ago, The Village Grocer is a sister store to the Norton St Grocer at Bondi Junction and just like its sibling, this greengrocer provides exceptional quality fruit and vegetables, a range that is second to none and the customer service is attentive and professional.

Located in the Stockland Balgowlah shopping centre off Sydney Road, The Village Grocer covers a massive 1150sqm and is filled to the brim with market fresh fruit and vegies. There is a vast mushroom display, over 10 varieties of tomatoes, a small organic selection and a wonderful supply of exotic and tradition fruits and speciality vegies.

The icing on the cake is the comprehensive selection of gourmet groceries, yoghurts, breads and the 18metres of deli counter filled with wedges and wheels of cheeses, smallgoods, smoked meats and a fabulous range of semi prepared meals like frittata, arancini, Italian meat balls and more.

Operated by Richard Sellaro (previously of Metro Grocer in Marrickville), Sebastian Scandurra who brings a wealth of food service experience and the renowned fruiterer Claudio Guerrera, this store is focused on delivering quality, convenience  and value to the local community.

You will love their fruit baskets, seasonal fruit platters and hampers and better still, they offer home delivery.

Details: THE VILLAGE GROCER
Shop 72, Stocklands Balgowlah, 215 Condamine Street, Balgowlah. Tel: (02) 9949 4355

 

June 2010 – Mr Spudley's Vegie Patch

Just saying the name of this store brings a smile to your face. It’s fun, quirky and novel and according to Lou Frino, the store’s name came about with the help of friends and a brain storming session.

Based in one of the largest shopping centres in the Illawarra area, Stockland Shellharbour, just 20 kilometres south of Wollongong, Mr Spudleys’ Vegie Patch has been servicing the Illawarra community since 1997 with outstanding levels of quality fruit, vegetables and good old-fashioned service.

Lou Frino together with his charming parents Corina and Angelo and his brother Tony work 7 days a week running this stylish store and have developed a solid reputation for quality, price and outstanding customer service.

Mr Spudley’s Vegie Patch has a friendly, inviting feel, has wide aisles, is brightly lit and has a comprehensive range of fruits and vegetables that is displayed with creative flair and attention to detail.

This store’s consistent commitment to quality and service has seen them win the Sydney Markets Regional Greengrocer of the Year award in 2003 and 2006, and in 2009 they were named in the top ten regional greengrocers in NSW.

Recently Mr Spudley’s Vegie Patch has opened a second store in Figtree, so Lou Frino who undertakes all the fresh produce buying for Shellharbour and Figtree has never been busier or more committed to ensuring that his customers’ expectations are exceeded.

Details: MR SPUDLEY’S VEGIE PATCH
Shop 16, Stocklands Shellhabour, Lake Entrance Road, Shellharbour, NSW 2529
Tel: (02) 4295 6666

 

May 2010 – Parisi’s Food Hall

Veteran greengrocer Claudio Guerrera has teamed up with Mario Bombardier (his previous Norton St, Bondi Junction Fresh Produce Manager) and experienced fresh produce buyer Peter Morelli to create one of Sydney’s newest and most spectacular greengrocers/food halls.

From the moment you step through the doors onto the cool, clean, terrazzo floor, it is apparent that the proprietors have an eye for detail and quality is paramount.

By conventional standards this store is enormous and its interior opulent.  After a brief encounter with the fresh flower displays, the store opens onto an expansive fruit and vegetable section that occupies around 45% of the store.

The fruit and vegetable range is outstanding and the displays impeccable. There are the usual favourites as well as the hottest new lines - organic blood limes, black salisfy, baby red cos, cavolo nero and French ball carrots.

Purple tissue paper is artfully wrapped around the Packham pears, the rows of fruit are spick and span with the natural colours and shapes of the fruit and vegetables used skilfully to create ye appeal. The leafy greens are fresh and perky, the mushrooms snow white and strawberries are plump and fragrant.

Parisi’s Food Hall on Dover Street, Rose Bay also offers a plethora of gourmet groceries, interesting breads, a deli counter, salad and yoghurt bar and their meat cabinet has also proved popular with locals. At the rear of the store you will find a quiet place to sip a latte, read a complimentary newspaper or write up a shopping list.

Details: Parisi’s Food Hall - 21 Dover Street, Rose Bay • Tel 02 9371 2411

 

April 2010 –Penrith Plaza Growers Market

Penrith Growers Market located in the bustling Penrith Plaza has been recognised with the Sydney Markets Greengrocer of the Month award for April 2010.

Owned by the Moraitis family since May 2007 and more recently managed by John Borsellino, this store offers the local community a comprehensive range of fresh fruit and vegetables at reasonable prices and warm friendly service.

Located on a busy corner in the fresh food area, Penrith Growers Market makes good use of the high traffic area to promote their weekly specials and seasonal lines.

This stores fresh fruit and vegetables are sourced and delivered daily from Sydney Markets and turned over quickly so customers can be sure their fresh produce is ultra fresh.

To complement the fresh produce range Penrith Growers Market offers an interesting range of nuts, dried beans and lentils, honey and spices together with farm fresh eggs and gluten free products.

Sydney Markets mystery shoppers were particularly impressed by the care that staff took whist packing their purchases and the staff’s happy demeanour.

According to Mr Borsellino feedback from Sydney Markets Mystery Shopping Program has been most helpful to them for benchmarking their performance and has facilitated an improvement in the level of customer service.

Details: Shop 22 Penrith Plaza, Riley Street, Penrith NSW 2750. Tel 02 47321147

 

March 2010 –Daily Fresh

Daily Fresh, Randwick is back in the winner’s circle having taken out the Sydney Markets Greengrocer of the Month Award for March 2010.

The Frenchman Road store owned by Nick and Tony Sofia is an established community business that has built a loyal clientele by identifying that quality, service and convenience are their customers’ priorities.

Opening onto the street with colourful displays of pre-packed fruits and fresh cut flowers, Daily Fresh has visual appeal that draws you into the store.

Like many contemporary greengrocers this store has evolved into a one stop shop, where you can gather an impressive range of seasonal market fresh produce together with a plethora of gourmet groceries, smallgoods and fresh meat. The feeling of abundance and overall quality creates a mouth-watering atmosphere that makes you want to linger.

A small band of staff are always visible; topping up displays, trimming and maintaining the produce displays, attending to the store’s presentation and assisting customers.

With the extension of their trading hours to 7 days a week, 7am to 8pm Daily Fresh this small business is working hard to service the Randwick community.

Details: Daily Fresh, 105 Frenchmans Road, Randwick. Tel 02 9399 7226

 

February 2010 –FruitEzy Chatswood

Max Filipe and his brother in law Abilio Paiva have run their award winning business, FruitEzy in Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre on Sydney’s North Shore since 2000.

In April 2009 FruitEzy relocated to their swanky new premises in the Chase’s renovated and relocated Fresh Food precinct, where they continued to maintain the exceptionally high standards which saw their store achieve a finalist position in the 2007 and 2008 Greengrocer of the  Year Awards.

When it comes to quality and variety FruitEzy’s customers are spoiled for choice. There is the inspiring range of Asian produce, an extensive assortment of mushrooms and potatoes, FruitEzy is also a great place to find the hottest new produce like purple carrots, red baby cos, jujube fruit, fresh horseradish, cavolo nero, achacha, French round carrots, Jazz apples and stringless sugarsnap peas.

The commercial kitchens at the rear of the store are a hive of activity as the resident chefs whip up stunning fruit salads with fresh figs and strawberries, and salads like rocket, almond haloumi and cranberry, pre-chopped stir-fry packs that are artfully presented, real fresh fruit gelatos and a range of fresh produce dips and soups.

FruitEzy’s new store is aesthetically pleasing, the combination of white and black marble walls teamed with splash panels of apple green and fire engine red and a little leafy motif that adorns their walls, signage and staff uniforms is eye catching.  The signage is consistent and easy to read, the trolleys and baskets are clean and the staff go out of their way to accommodate.

Details: Fruitezy -Shop B001, Chatswood Chase, 345 Victoria Avenue, CHATSWOOD, 2067, Tel 02 94115367

 

January 2010 –Norton St Grocer’s, Bondi Junction

Norton St Grocer’s, high standards have once again secured them a Sydney Markets Greengrocer of the Month award. Since opening their doors in 2005 in Westfield Bondi Junction this store has deservingly notched up a plethora of industry and community awards.

Operated by Claudio and Albert Guerrera and their partners George Angelidis and Max Tomassian, this store is a treasure trove of quality fruit and vegetables and is a truly inspirational place to shop. Norton St Grocer’s winning formula of top quality ,produce and personal service offers the kind of exceptional shopping experience that every gourmet dreams about.

The fresh produce displays are built, groomed and overseen by Produce Manager Adam Elawaad and the dedicated staff who are clearly trained in the traditional method of stacking fruit and vegetables. The produce sparkles with freshness, colour and is presented superbly. Norton St Grocer places a strong emphasis on cleanliness, quality, presentation, variety and has stellar customer service. The wide aisles enable customers to move about freely. Their improved computerised checkout system ensures customers are served efficiently by attentive checkout staff.

Details: Shop 1027 Westfield Shopping Centre, Bondi Junction NSW 2022. Tel: (02) 9386 5800