A straightforward look at how ordering works, what to expect when you phone in, and the practical limits that keep the service honest and reliable.
Caulfield Grocer did not open as a full grocery store. It started with a few crates of oranges and a simple idea: sell what is ripe, keep the prices honest, and let regulars decide what goes on the shelves. The timeline below shows the steps that turned that idea into the shop you see today.
March 2018
We rented a small corner in an existing shop and brought in whatever the nearby market had in bulk that week. Oranges, potatoes, and leafy greens were the starting lineup. No signage, just a handwritten board and a scale.
September 2018
Customers kept asking if we had milk or a loaf to go with the vegetables. We added a small fridge and a shelf for bread from a local bakery. That was the moment the shop stopped being a produce stand and started being a grocery store.
June 2019
The corner got too tight. We took over a former bakery on the main road, added wooden crates for display, and painted the front in the warm green and cream colours that still mark the shopfront today.
January 2020
A few elderly regulars could not make the trip in bad weather, so we began taking orders by phone and dropping bags off on the way home. Word spread quickly, and the delivery round soon covered most of the southern suburbs.
August 2021
Parents picking up kids from the nearby school asked for something quick. We set up a small counter for fresh-cut fruit bowls and sandwiches between 11 and 2. It is still a side operation, but it has become a regular stop for many families.
Today
Nothing about the routine has changed. We buy from nearby markets, write the day's arrivals on the chalkboard, and let shoppers ask what came in that morning. The shelves stay practical, and the growers stay local.
Whether you call in the morning or stop by the counter, the process stays the same: tell us what you need, we pack it from what arrived fresh, and you pick it up or we bring it to your door.
Phone your order before 10 am for same-day delivery, or just walk in and ask what came off the truck that morning. Staff can tell you what is ripe and what will keep until the weekend.
Your order is picked from the shelves and crates, not from a warehouse list. If a vegetable is past its best, we swap it for something fresher and let you know before it goes in the bag.
Collect your order from the counter, or we deliver within the neighbourhood for elderly customers and busy families. Delivery runs happen in the afternoon, so your groceries arrive before dinner prep.
A few practical notes: phone orders are confirmed by return call, and if you are unsure about quantities, tell us how many people you are cooking for and we will size the order accordingly.
Ask us a questionNot sure what to order? Browse our delivery options to see how we handle regular weekly shops.