Healthy living and organic grocery store
A Coffs Coast success story.
Kombu Wholefoods In a time where many small businesses seem to be struggling, it is great to be able to celebrate a healthy Coffs Coast success story. Kombu Wholefoods first opened its doors in Bellingen in September 2004. It was, and remains, a partnership b between Lowanna and Kevin Doye.
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he couple moved to Bellingen fresh from a 16 month bicycle ride from England to Australia, and soon after the birth of their first child. The bike ride was developed as a means of raising awareness about the environmental impact of air travel, and the environmental theme continued with the opening of Kombu.
vice. The response was great, and we recently reached the point where our online store was reflecting our original Bellingen store. We loved them both but had outgrown them – so we moved to a larger physical store down the road and worked with a regional software company on a completely new online store.
“The results have been great, with online sales currently growing at between 30% and The store has always had a policy of utilising 50% per month. That is a substantial growth local chemical free and organic fresh produce rate, and the challenge at the moment is to and working with local growers and the comensure we can grow the team in store whilst munity to further develop a sustainable local maintaining our customer service and stock produce market. The aim of the availability levels. It has brought a few store, however, goes beyond late nights, but also the reward local produce, as Lowanna of increasing the number of explained to FOCUS: local jobs – we have a great As a mum with “We have always team in store – and bringfour hungry I know worked hard with local ing more income into our young children st how growers and suppliregion.” only too well ju can much food they ers to ensure that In between the juggles ed to get through, so ne ally not only were they of raising their growre be able to source nic getting a living wage ing family and growing ga fresh local and or for their produce, but od family business, Kevin and produce at a go also that we could retail Lowanna are also workprice.” those products at a price ing on the development of that was as affordable as another initiative – Love Local. possible. Healthy food should The aim is to get local and regional not be a luxury only available to those food and other local products into the with money to spare. As a mum with community at even better prices, whilst also four hungry young children, I know only working to increase availability of, and knowltoo well just how much food they can get edge about, local products within their Coffs through, so need to be able to source really Coast community. Love Local will operate from fresh local and organic produce at a good within the current store and is looking likely to price. This is what we work hard to achieve launch towards the end of April. with the store.” Kombu is open in Bellingen from Monday As well as supplying their local region, the to Saturday and can be found at the end of store has also developed a busy online store to Church Street, next to the lookout. You can allow those in other regional areas easy access call the store on (02) 6655 9299. to their range of products. According to Kevin, The online store is located at: the response to date has been similar to the www.kombuwholefoods.com.au delivers daily Bellingen store: “We opened our online store across the Coffs Coast and Australia wide. several years ago, with the focus on quality, More information on the Love Local initiative range, competitive pricing and customer sercan be found at www.lovelocal.net.au
Kombu Wholefoods is a large, affordable healthy living and organic grocery store based in beautiful Bellingen, just outside Coffs Harbour.
ing with
pressing juicers to the latest range of just-arrived Manduca Baby Carriers (made, of course, from organic cotton).
In keep The thriving Bellingen Kombu opened in y their philosoph store is complemented 2004 with a focus op of being a one st with an equally busy on well priced local stock shop, they also online store. Kombu and chemical free a wide range of is open Monday to g fresh produce and in other healthy liv er Saturday, and we ov products. In keeping ith products – w t.” un recommend a visit. You co with their philosophy st la 2, 500 at can find them at the end of being a one stop of the Church Street café shop, they also stock a strip, Bellingen. If you cannot wide range of other healthy get to Bellingen or prefer delivery living products – with over to your door, you can shop online at 2,500 at last count. These range from hundreds of bulk lines through affordable cold www.kombuwholefoods.com.au
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