What’s Happening?
Toowoomba’s passion for fresh produce has earned two of its local retailers statewide recognition.
Toowoomba Fresh and Westridge Fruit & Vegetables have been announced as Queensland finalists in the 2025 A better choice! Retailer of the Year – People’s Choice Awards. The awards celebrate the hard work, dedication, and community connection of independent fruit and veg shops across Australia.
Why It Matters
Independent fruit and veg retailers form a vital part of local food supply chains, often providing fresher produce and more personalised service than major supermarkets. These awards highlight the power of community support in sustaining local businesses that also support farmers, markets, and growers. The strong backing for Toowoomba Fresh and Westridge reflects deep community appreciation for local, family-owned produce stores.
Local Impact
The nominations are a public show of gratitude from Toowoomba shoppers to their trusted local shops. Both stores, which are family-owned and operated, have built strong reputations by prioritising freshness, variety, and customer service.
Robert Smith, owner of Toowoomba Fresh, credited the recognition to his loyal customer base and the daily efforts of his team. “It is incredibly rewarding to see our customers appreciate what we do,” he said.
“We take great pride in ourselves, the quality of the produce we offer, and the presentation of our store. This recognition means a lot to us, and we sincerely thank our loyal customers.
As a family business, we love being part of the Toowoomba community. Our focus is on delivering fresh, high-quality produce and excellent customer service. We’re also proud to support local farmers by hand-selecting our produce daily from the Brisbane Markets.”
Westridge Fruit & Vegetables, run by fourth-generation fruiterers Luke and Matt Boulus, also expressed their gratitude to their customers and staff.
“This is fantastic news! We put in hard work every day throughout the year to provide our customers with fresh and quality produce, and of course excellent customer service,” said Luke Boulus.
“We love the fruit and vegetable industry, and we love our business. We strive to make every customer’s experience personalised.”
By the Numbers:
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48,000+ shoppers cast their votes across Australia in the 2025 A better choice! People’s Choice Awards
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11,000 nominations were received from Queensland alone
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104 Queensland stores were in the running
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10 stores were named Queensland finalists, including two in Toowoomba
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Westridge Fruit & Vegetables is backed by over 70 years of family history in the produce industry
Luke and Matt Boulus continue their family legacy by visiting the Brisbane Markets twice a week to hand-pick produce themselves. On the remaining days, they receive market deliveries to ensure their shelves are always full of fresh, seasonal options.
“Matt and I personally visit the Brisbane Markets at least two days a week to hand-pick the fruit and vegetables we stock. On the other days, we have a delivery from the Brisbane Markets to ensure we always have a large range of fresh, quality produce on the shelves for our customers,” said Luke.
Zoom In
These two Toowoomba stores are more than just places to shop. They serve as pillars of their community, supporting regional farmers and offering service with a personal touch. Whether it’s Robert Smith’s pride in store presentation or the Boulus brothers’ dedication to hand-selecting produce, both businesses place care and quality at the centre of everything they do.
Zoom Out
The A better choice! Retailer Program is a national initiative aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of shopping at independent stores. It is run in Queensland by Brismark in partnership with Brisbane Markets Limited, which support independent grocers who source directly from the Brisbane Markets.
Andrew Young, CEO of Brismark and Brisbane Markets Limited, commended the finalists: “Brismark and Brisbane Markets Limited are proud to support the retailers who hand select produce daily from the Brisbane Markets to ensure they can provide their customers with a large range of quality, fresh fruit and vegetables.
When you shop at a local, independent store, you are supporting local and often family-owned businesses right across the supply chain, including local growers.”
The top prize, both nationally and across Queensland, was awarded to Erbacher’s Fruit & Vegetables on the Sunshine Coast. Still, the recognition of Toowoomba Fresh and Westridge Fruit & Vegetables among the best in the state is a strong win for the Garden City’s vibrant retail scene.
What to Look For Next
With such strong community support and momentum from the awards, both stores are well-positioned to continue growing their customer base and reinforcing the value of independent retail. Toowoomba shoppers can expect more fresh produce, more friendly service, and more reasons to shop local.