THERE has been a changing of the guard for a long time Brisbane Markets business.
Big Michael's Fruit and Vegetables owner, Peter Marinos, has purchased the 32-year-old business, Vegie Express, plus the trading floor at the markets, Market Egg Supplies.
The transaction was something of a full circle moment for Mr Marinos as it was his "uncle" (not by blood), Louie Louca, who took him under his wing 13 years ago.
"I started renting five pallet spaces in the corner of the warehouse," Mr Marinos said.
"I then started growing and took up more and more that he suggested I move to another one of his tenancies block which was 700 square metres.
"After much deliberation I agreed and took the leap of faith purely frightened I wouldn't be able to afford the rent and didn't need such a large space."
But after three years, the business was "busting at the seams", according to Mr Marinos, which prompted them to look for more room.
An entire building/selling floor came up for sale.
"Again I had the same thoughts as this time I was purchasing the leasehold outright," Mr Marinos said.
The expansion plans continued, leading Mr Marinos to talk to Mr Louca once more.
"So we looked at extending and as always I went to my mentor for advice and he said, just buy me out and let me retire," he said.
That was enough to seal the deal for Mr Marinos.
Mr Louca started his business venture in the Brisbane Markets in about 1988, purchasing Market Egg Supplies.
He followed up this in the 1990s taking on the second business, Vegie Express.
It went from a one truck operation to now 13 vehicles servicing south east Queensland.
The business supplies fruit and vegetables to various organisations and companies, as well as eggs, mixed leaf salads, herbs, cheese and yoghurts, processed products and juice.
This will become a natural fit with Big Michael's which provides produce to more than 2900 cafes, schools, childcare centres, nursing homes, bars and restaurants, with about 75 staff on the books.
Mr Marinos said taking on the egg sales was also a natural thing.
"I've been buying eggs through other growers and we're not part of Market Eggs so now, if anything, we have added value and increased the range on the selling floor," he said.
"I love it out here at the markets, it's changing every day. There's always new people to meet and new deals to be made.
"My favourite part is actually doing deliveries and seeing and interacting with my customers.
"People often say, why are you in the truck? Shouldn't you have someone to do that for you but I truly believe it's got me to where I am and I enjoy seeing the customers and talking and interacting with the chefs.
"I have always built my business by knowing and helping people."
Mr Marinos said there were a lot of "new guys" on the selling floor and with the way things were going, people were pre-ordering over the phone more.
"I'd like to see more technology be integrated which is why we are trialling an app ordering system on the selling floor," he said.
Of course, Australia could always eat more fruits and vegetables, to the mutual benefit of everyone, Mr Marinos said.
He said both the government and industry should invest in more advertising on the importance of nutrients and greenery for the digestive system and tackle obesity and diabetes.
"All I ever see on TV is ads for fast food and gambling these days," he said.
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Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
