by Janine Hill

A 20th anniversary looms on the calendar for Anthony and Pamela Jeffress but they are more likely to be talking about pie and drink deals than a romantic dinner.

The Jeffresses operate The Swagman’s Pie Sensations at Nambour, better known to locals as Swagman’s Pies or simply, Swaggy’s, which will mark 20 years of operation on 30 October.

Anthony and Pamela opened the business in 2003 with Pamela’s parents, Steve and Sheerie Wales, who retired only a few years ago to Tasmania.

Pamela followed her father into the baking trade and said it was hard work but she and Anthony were proud to be running a business that was not only going strong, but getting stronger, after 20 years. “I really love what I do but the days can be really long days.

“I’m used to the mornings. I’m a morning person actually, but some days and weeks, it makes you feel like it’s a long time that we’ve been here,” she said.

“But I’m also very pleased that we’ve been here 20 years. “I know a lot of businesses have struggled and have had to close their doors over the last couple of years and we’re lucky to have that customer base and how they’ve supported us.”

Anthony said the focus from day one had been on three things: the size of the food, the quality, and customer service.

He said the greatest compliment they received was when new customers arrived, referred by others, and kept coming back whilein town. “I think the number one thing is that we do take great care to provide a consistent product,” he said.

Swaggy’s best sellers are its meat, bacon and cheese pies, and chunky steak pies. The meat, bacon and cheese pie earned Swaggy’s a top five place on the Creek to Coast program’s national pie review. Piney’s Pies put Swaggy’s in its top three and it maintains a top 10 spot with Piney’s years later.

Anthony and Pamela plan to share the special occasion of Swaggy’s 20th anniversary with their customers.

“We’re looking at putting on some ‘turning back the clock’ deals’,” Anthony said.

Swaggy’s Pies is at 26A Arundell Ave, Nambour