Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) and the Central Markets Association of Australia (CMAA) are delighted to announce the 2023 ‘A better choice!’ Retailer of the Year, People’s Choice Award Winners, recognising Australia’s favourite local fruit and vegetable shops as voted by Australian shoppers.
The ‘A better choice!’ Retailer of the Year, People’s Choice Award is designed to highlight the stores that received the most nominations from their local community as their favourite store, in celebration of the quality, freshness and service provided at Aussie Independent fruit and veg shops. This year over 29k shoppers nominated 411 individual stores as their favourite fruit and veg shop.
The winners were announced publicly on 22 June 2023.
The national winner taking out the title of Australia’s favourite fruit & veg shop is Arnold’s, a shop with a rich history spanning back to 1892. The store, which maintains a strong sense of community in the city of Wodonga, Victoria, has been named Australia’s favourite as voted by the Australian public. This is a wonderful achievement for the store which last year placed second nationally. The store will be celebrating with an in-store event on June 22nd with special guest Julie Goodwin, an ‘A better choice!’ Ambassador. Second place nationally is Adelaide Fresh Fruiterers in Morphett Vale South Australia, which won the award in both 2021 and 2022 and remains one of Australia’s most loved fruit & veg shops.
The top three stores nationally are:
- 1st: Arnold’s (Wodonga, VIC)
- 2nd Adelaide Fresh Fruiterers (Morphett Vale, SA)
- 3rd, Metro Fresh (Findon, SA)
The State winners are:
- Arnold’s (VIC)
- Adelaide Fresh Fruiterers Morphett Vale (SA)
- Hartleys Fresh Market (NSW), Trims Fresh, Merrylands (NSW)
- Erbacher’s (QLD)
- The Healthy Bunch (WA)
James Patrick, the National Program Manager for ‘A better choice!’ says,
“It’s a great cause for celebration. This year, Australian fruit and veg shops received more votes than ever. It’s a testament to the power of local Australian communities to support small businesses, particularly local growers, wholesalers and retailers. Across the country, there’s been involvement from so many retailers who have been working tirelessly to bring their communities the very best quality fruit and vegetables at the best possible value”
A range of imagery and video footage is available here.
[ENDS]
About ‘A better choice!’
‘A better choice!’ is the first national initiative designed to educate consumers about the quality, service and freshness of produce at their local fruit and vegetable shop. The program is a joint initiative under Fresh Markets Australia and The Central Markets Association of Australia. The program supports more than 800 fruit and veg business owners across Australia who supply 15% of the fresh produce sold each year. ‘A better choice!’ presents an opportunity for consumers to come together to help create a positive future for business owners, produce wholesalers and local growers who supply them.
About Fresh Markets Australia (FMA)
Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) is the national organisation representing each of the five Market Chambers, which themselves are organisations that represent the fruit and vegetable wholesalers located in each of Australia’s six central Markets (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Newcastle).
About The Central Markets Association of Australia (CMAA)
The Central Markets Association of Australia (CMAA) was formed in 2001 to provide a peak body for the five capital city wholesale central markets around Australia. Its members include the Adelaide Produce Market, Brisbane Markets, Perth Markets, the Melbourne Market and the Sydney Markets.
Contact details:
South Australia:
Penny Reidy
Marketing Communications and Business Development Manager
M 0408 877 797
Queensland:
Karen Tilke
Business & Service Delivery Manager
M 0417 207 233
Victoria:
Zac Egan
State Program Coordinator – “A better choice!”
M 0429 700 276
New South Wales:
Lindi Shull
Customer Service & Marketing Coordinator
M 0439 550 596
Western Australia:
Inci Humberstone
Retailer Program Manager
M 0416 276 437
National:
James Parick
‘A better choice!’ National Program Manager
M 0425757777