Otto’s expands its fresh food offer at Castletown shopping centre

Townsville’s Otto’s foodie empire is expanding with a new fruit and vegetable outlet.

TOWNSVILLE’S Otto’s foodie empire is expanding again with a new fruit and vegetable store under its Harvest brand opening in Castletown shopping centre.

The brand is part of the popular food and coffee group’s fruit and vegetable division which is where it all began for the homegrown retailer at the Warrina shopping centre in 2013.

At that time, it was about surviving against the might of the big two grocery chains and putting to use vacant supermarket and arcade space where others had tried and failed.

This latest expansion is partly about lowering costs through providing more scale.

One of the original Otto’s partners, Don Peel, said Castletown owners the McConaghy Group had asked them if they would take on the centre’s fruit and vegetable store when its previous operator Big Al’s closed.

“We gave it a fair bit of consideration. The timing worked out well for us. Hopefully, we can do a good job of it,” Mr Peel said.

“With a larger offer, it means we can commit to larger buys and cut down on transport costs. We can bring more produce directly from farmers rather than having to go to Brisbane.”

Much of the state’s produce is consolidated in the Rocklea markets.

Otto’s started from a desire to provide premium quality food direct from farmers and small goods manufacturers as well as preparing its own meats and baked goods.

Bob Aumend, Mel Crawford, Harry Crawford and Don Peel at the new Otto's Harvest fresh produce store at Castletown. Picture: Evan Morgan

From just a few staff at Warrina, the group now has multiple outlets around Townsville, including Otto’s Market Precinct in Idalia, and employs more than 290 people.

Partly as a response to Covid-19, coffee roaster Coffee Dominion merged with Otto’s last year, while The Spirited Goat cafe at the Precinct merged with Otto’s in April where relocated into former Otto’s kitchen and bar.

Also, coffee and food operator Good Morning Coffee Trader was bought by Otto’s last year.

As they expanded, Otto’s shareholders and staffing also grew.

Otto’s partner and Spirited Goat restaurant operator Harry Crawford, who has worked in the Rocklea markets, is overseeing the new Harvest store.

Mr Crawford said they had retained most of the store’s previous staff and gained further connections into the North’s produce market.

Bananas, mangoes, star fruit, dragonfruit, pineapples, paw paws, lychees, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants, lettuces, mushrooms, beansprouts, shallots and honey are among the locally sourced produce.

Mr Crawford said it was a “tricky business” and difficult to compete with the big chains but by buying locally and providing good service they were confident of success.

Originally published as Otto’s expands its fresh food offer at Castletown shopping centre