Sunshine Coast family producer Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables one-ups Coles and Woolies

Empty produce shelves were a common sight at giant supermarkets this year, but a fourth-generation family-run producer found a way to better them.

A Sunshine Coast fourth-generation family producer says it went “above and beyond” to one-up Coles and Woolworths supermarkets earlier this year when floods and wet weather emptied many produce shelves at the giant supermarket chains.

Founded in 1965, Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables is a fourth-generation family-owned produce farm and grocery at David Low Way, Diddillibah, known for fresh, quality and affordable produce.

Last week, the business won first place for the best produce retailer in Queensland at annual retailer competition ‘A Better Choice!’ Retailer of the Year and People’s Choice Award.

Erbachers also scored second best in Australia.

Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables office manager Tanya Husband said she underpinned her business’s success on its prices, quality food, loyal customers and customer service.

Business award winner Tanya Husband of Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables. Picture: Patrick Woods.

During the floods and wet weather early this year Mrs Husband said her team went “above and beyond” to get stock with her truck drivers driving longer distances and increasing their work hours from seven to 14 hours a day to get stock.

Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables farms produce up to 30,000 strawberries a year and source locally as well as from a large produce market in Brisbane.

“Whatever wasn’t available [at giant supermarkets] … we could still get,” she said.

Mrs Husband said her team put in the hard yards because it was “extremely important” not to disappoint her loyal customers.

Mrs Husband, a third-generation family member, said she has fourth-generation customers and people who had been coming to the store for 40 years, some from as far as the Gold Coast and beyond Gympie.

While the worst weather might be over, Mrs Husband said she was still struggling to get a few produce items and keep prices down.

“[But] we’re almost always cheaper than Coles and Woolies,” she said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast family producer Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables one-ups Coles and Woolies