Local food, loyalty leads cafe through COVID

Mill St Kitchen & Pantry part owner James Ostridge ... “We’re not doing this for a fad, we’re doing this because we care about our local suppliers.”

JUST six months into their new business venture COVID-19 caused à la carte sales at Nambour’s Mill St Kitchen & Pantry to drop 90 percent overnight. 

But part owner James Ostridge and the team are not ones to shrink in the face of adversity. “You have to be able to adapt,” said James.  “We’re just learning every day. Changing every single day. 

“While à la carte has dropped, the shop side has picked up because of the changes we’ve made. So we’re probably still 20 percent down. But we’re doing all right,” he said with a grin that betrayed some justified pride.

“We changed our business model in six days from à la carte to take-home delivery. So I might do one bacon and egg muffin for brekky now, if I’m lucky. 

“But then, the take-home stuff has really taken off. And we do free local delivery as well. We’re very lucky here because we’re a retail shop as well as à la carte. A lot of cafes are just cafes — whereas there’s a retail side to our business.”

What also helps keep the store going is a commitment to local produce and local producers. 

“I’ve been a chef for 25 years and I come from the UK,” said James. “And back home you use local produce all the time.  

“We always use local produce from small producers and this is something I’m not really willing to budge on. It may not be as cheap as other produce but you know you’re getting quality product and you’re supporting the local community at the same time.

“We’re not doing this for a fad, we’re doing this because we care about our local suppliers. My baker was in a minute ago and he bought stuff off me. My mushroom guy came in before and he had lunch. What goes around comes around. It’s about knowing about their story and knowing about their lives. They’ve got families as well, you know. So it’s a case of supporting each other because the product is better and the product supports a local family. 

“And in turn, our customers want that quality product and that’s what it’s about. Quality over quantity. 

The Pantry sells local produce like  goat’s cheese, kimchee, eggs, yogurt, cheese, ice-cream, veggies and meat. 

“We’ve got Woombye cheese, Maleny mushrooms and even crab. The kale shoots, these are from a lady called Noni up in Maleny. We’ve even got local Kin Kin cleaning products. And we have a wholefoods room. Yeah, so there’s lots going on.”

Mill St Kitchen & Pantry is at 7 Mill Street Nambour out front of Coles and near the Nambour Heritage Tram.

“We’re in a beautiful building that has been here 120 years. These were the old Mill buildings.”

Nambour’s Moreton Central Sugar Mill closed in 2003 on the site now occupied by the Coles complex.

— by Cameron Outridge