MORLEY Growers Market (MGM) in Malaga, which has three family generations involved in the business, will gain stability from its three-year contract with the “landmark” Optus Stadium.
The family business has been owned and operated by the Vitsas family for the past 28 years.
Director Steve Vitsas has been in the food industry for more than 40 years, while his sons Nick and Vick managing the wholesale operation since 1990.
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READ NOWMGM’s key contracts include Crown Perth, Marriot Group, Qantas Lounges, Hyatt Regency Perth, Print Hall, Parmelia Hilton, Pan Pacific, Perth Racing, Joondalup Resort and C Restaurant.
The business secured the Optus Stadium tender in 2017 before starting to supply WA produce including beans, beetroots, carrots, tomatoes and lettuce in January.
Nick said the family was a “very good team”.
“After all those years having worked together, it has been fine-tuned,” he said.
“We all have children who seem to be very keen (to be involved).”
His wife Sarah, who managed accounts, said it was the first time MGM secured a stadium contract, which also benefited growers and staff, who would be able to commit to growing stock for three years.
“Having that three years means that everyone can invest into it, which is just great for WA,” she said.
“Being able to go into Optus Stadium and say that everything that we are eating is from a local supplier, I think is amazing.”
Sarah said her two nephews worked in the business while her 11-year-old son helped out on weekends.
“They are 18 and 21 – they mostly work as delivery drivers and packers at this stage but I think the aim is the next generation (takes over),” she said.
“They are both doing university degrees in business so I think the idea is that in five or 10 years when they are ready, they will come back in and take over hopefully some of the workload from us.
“I think that is part of the motivation… we keep the business moving forward for them.”
She said despite moving from a small shop in Morley to the Malaga warehouse in 2012, the family still operated like a “small family business”.
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