Gold Coast finally home to Harris Farm Markets at Via Roma at Isle of Capri, 70 locals employed
The long-awaited Gold Coast opening of Harris Farm Markets has finally arrived, with hundreds of delicious delights set to ignite taste buds. WHAT TO EXPECT.
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THE highly-anticipated opening of Harris Farm Markets at Via Roma on the Isle of Capri has been announced — with doors to be flung wide open on Thursday, November 18.
The famed and family-owned and operated fruit, veg and grocery market features is 1500sq m and features 500 lines of fresh produce and 400 cheeses.
Chief executive Tristan Harris, one of the three Harris sons who now run the company after their now retired parents, David and Cathy Harris, said the Gold Coast held a special place in the family’s heart.
“We have spent so much time there as a family on holidays and to now be able to open on the Isle of Capri, in the heart of a city that values their fresh fruit, vegetables and food stories so highly, is really exciting,” he said.
With more than 70 locals employed, the Capri store features 500 lines of fruit and veg, including organic a gourmet grocery section of boutique local products, an extensive deli with more than 400 cheeses, nine butchers, a fish market and a bakery.
Mr Harris said the store pays tribute to the Gold Coast lifestyle and features more than 200 buoys painted by Surfers Paradise State School children and a suspended refurbished boat and artworks by Gold Coast contemporary artist Kiel Tillman.
In November 2020 Harris Farm Markets opened their first store in Queensland, after 30 years away from the state.
WHAT TO EXPECT
FRUIT & VEG: Local favourites include Little Acre, gourmet mushroom supplier from Brisbane, strawberries from the Sunshine Coast & Caboolture, Toowoomba avocados and crisp lettuces and celery from Redland.
IMPERFECT PICKS: Harris Farm’s Imperfect Picks program helps reduce the fact that up to 25 per cent of Australian crops currently never leave the farm gate because they do not meet the visual specifications of some supermarkets and consumers yet are perfect on the inside.
RE-PURPOSEFUL PICKS: – a delicious new range of products that give fruit, veg and groceries a second chance at life. Every year, Australians throw out 7.3 million tonnes of food, with food wastage reportedly responsible for around 6 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. This range helps combat these statistics.
CHEESE BOARDWALK: Featuring more than 400 cheeses, including a range of vegan and local stars Barambah, Woombye, Olympus and Casa Motta among others.
BREAD SOCIAL: In thrilling news for bread lovers, the famous Bread Social from Tweed Heads and Byron Bay and creators of sourdough and pastries from local and organic ingredients have a counter at the markets. Bread will be baked daily on the mezzanine level and will conveyor-fall like a bread waterfall to the ground floor.
MILK ON TAP: Queensland’s multi-award winning Maleny Dairy, Barambah Organics milk from the Qld/NSW border region, and Almond Milk from Mandole Orchard on Tap.
HONEY ON TAP: The Gold Coast’s famous and family owned BioSota Manuka honey will literally be liquid gold in the store, with four taps allowing customers to our their own.
NUT BUTTERS: Self-serve almond, peanut and cashew butters allows customers to choose the nuts and make the nut butter in store, with nothing else added.
PLANT-BASED RANGE: More than 150 plant-based products including Bite Me Fine Foods, Golden Falafel, Suzy Spoon, The Green Lion, Veglicious Kitchen and Wildly Good.
NUTS & HEALTH FOOD: A range of almost 50 nuts and seeds, and more than 16 health foods including the organic pioneers Naked Byron Foods and Farmer Jo, both from Mullumbimby.
LOOSE COFFEE & TEA: A range of loose coffee beans from locals Lund Coffee Roaster as well as 20 loose teas.
PROPER MEAT BUTCHER: Home to nine in-house butchers who believe in doing things the proper way by offering cut to order meats, encouraging nose-to-tail consumptions, from livestock sourced locally including Spring Grove Fresh Food Company based in Casino and Hobbs Organic Chicken farm in Pittsworth.
FISH IN THE FAMILY: A traditional Aussie fishmonger with a passion for quality and sustainable seafood, owned and operated by the Papacosta Family since 1976. Some local favourites coming into season are wild barramundi from Far North Cairns, Great Barrier Reef coral trout as well as fresh tiger prawns from the Goldie.
LOCAL STARS: Some of south east Queensland’s leading food names in Roza’s Sauces, Frozen Sunshine Ice Blocks, Sweet Nectar desserts, My Berries and edible flowers, among many others.
‘Supporting local’: 90 jobs up for grabs
July 2021
GOLD Coasters eager to switch up their careers or secure more hours will soon have the opportunity as a major grocer prepares to make its foray into the city.
Harris Farm Markets, which already has a total 30 sites across New South Wales and Queensland, is looking to fill at least 90 positions – permanent and part-time – at its new Isle of Capri shopfront.
Applicants of all skill levels are invited to learn more about the positions available during a two-day recruitment pop-up at Pacific Fair this Friday and Saturday.
On offer are a variety of roles such as butchers, bakers, fruiterers, florists, deli and cheese specialists, as well as customer service and back of house team members: “Supporting local is key for us,” Co-CEO Luke Harris said.
“We source from local farmers and suppliers, create job opportunities for locals, and we really want to become part of the community by employing locally.”
Nine staff from departing tenant The Greener Grocer have already joined the ranks.
“We particularly want to welcome passionate, hardworking food enthusiasts to join the team – authenticity is everything to us, in the way we buy and present our produce through to the people we employ.” Staff are even entitled to a 25 per cent staff discount on produce.
Mr Harris said was thrilled to opening on the Glitter Strip less than nine months after opening its first store in Clayfield last November followed by its flagship store in West End earlier this year.
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS
“We have spent so much time there as a family on holidays and to now be able to open on the Isle of Capri, in the heart of a city that values their fresh fruit, vegetables and food stories so highly, is really exciting,” he said.
“The store at Capri on Via Roma will be home to the best in fruit and vegetables, as well as a gourmet grocery section of boutique local products, an extensive deli and offering of more than 400 cheeses, a bakery section with the best breads from sourdough to brioche, and a premium meat selection.
“We have some great surprises that we will reveal closer to opening!
Harris Farm Markets Recruitment Pop-Up
Where: Pacific Fair (near Lorna Jane)
When: Friday July 30 – 9am to 5.30pm
Saturday July 31 – 9am to 5.30pm
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