Our Approach…
The DiStefano family, led by father Joe and sons Kane and Joseph happily admit to old fashioned values that may seem simplistic but have served them well over the journey.
“Give people the good stuff, and I mean the GOOD stuff!” is Joe’s motto.
“If customers leave us because we’re too dear, I can accept it but I don’t want them leaving us because our produce is no good, I won’t accept that,” Joe said.
“When someone first opens the box of fruit and veg I want them to say ‘geez that’s nice’ – that’s the secret to it. We just don’t give people rubbish. Every bunch of parsley, we clean it up, tidy it up. Nobody does what we do, it’s the little things.”
Border Markets receives three B-Double trucks of produce a week from Melbourne markets, topped up by Sydney and Brisbane markets, as well as local growers where possible, depending on seasonal conditions.
“There’s a lot of behind the scenes work with growers, agents and sourcing the best stock,” Kane said.
“It’s the same with the customers – working out their needs, what they want, ensuring we’re meeting their needs with quality and service.
“Transporting fruit and veg is crucial. It’s important not to break the cold chain, especially in the summer months.
“If produce is not kept at a cold temperature, it shortens the lifespan of it, so after having refrigerated trucks deliver to us here, it’s packed in a refrigerated area, then put in one of our refrigerated vans so it never loses that cold chain.”
Joe is adamant it’s the simple things that make a big difference in the success of the business.
“If you’re happy with us, you’ll tell someone else. If you’re not happy, you’ll tell someone else. The best way to succeed is to be good at what you do!”
Joseph agrees that word of mouth has been the key to their success.
“I didn’t think it would grow as big as this – we never really persisted with advertising, we just fell into it and word of mouth has got us our name now.
“I think we’re known for good old fashion service and supplying people with a good product at a fair price.”
