Moonee Ponds businesses band together to provide contactless shopping

Small businesses in Moonee Ponds have banded together to provide a safe and convenient way to shop. From fruit and vegetables and meat to baked goods and coffee, here’s how you can tick off your shopping list from the comfort of your car.

De Maria’s Fruit and Veg was the first business in Moonee Ponds Central to offer contactless delivery.

Keeping safe while shopping at Moonee Ponds Central has just become a whole lot easier.

The centre has launched an online platform called Essentials Express, which allows customers to purchase items from a range of local businesses and then pick them up via a contactless drive-through service.

Shoppers can order from a range of different retailers inside the centre in one order, including De Maria’s greengrocer, Mother’s Pantry, Amore Coffee, Godfrey’s Butcher, Graina, The Poultry Club and Bakers Delight.

Richard and Tracey from Bakers Delight are offering their yummy baked goods in a safe way.

Customers can select from fresh produce, boxes or packaged deals and pay online to collect the goods from a dedicated drive-through location at the centre from Tuesday to Thursday.

The original idea came from De Maria’s greengrocer owner John De Maria, who was passionate about keeping his employees in their jobs and keeping his customers happy in a safe and healthy way.

His idea has now spread across many businesses in the centre.

One of the pre-packaged boxes available to purchase online from De Maria’s greengrocer.

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Mirvac Retail general manager Kelly Miller, which owns Moonee Ponds Central, said the quick rollout of the technology couldn’t have been achieved without all the local businesses hopping on board.

Theo from Moonee Ponds Poultry has jumped onto the contactless bandwagon.

“Our retailers have been very enthusiastic, and we are thrilled to deliver a curated and

collaborative, online solution so they can to continue to serve their customers,” she said.

“It’s our opportunity to support smaller and locally loved retailers who may not have the scale and resources traditionally to adapt their operating models and implement these type of technology solutions.”

Orders for businesses at Moonee Ponds Central can be placed here.

@EmilieBaxter_