Tasty, nutritious, easy meals

Homestyle meals, without having to turn on the stove … the team at Redcliffe Friendly Grocer does all the hard work and can even deliver.

The family business, owned by Ann, Terry and Kiesha Stehbens, has been making pre-prepared meals for about 16 years – starting with just a few and now offering 30-40 meal options each day including desserts, salads and fruits.

Kiesha says customers love the home-cooked style and that the meals are “no-fuss, normal food”.

“They’re also a good price point as well and nutritious,” she says.

Meals are delivered each Thursday to older people living on the Redcliffe peninsula, Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Brighton, Bracken Ridge, Mango Hill, Deception Bay, North Lakes and Murrumba Downs.

Their delivery person, Carla Thomas is a favourite with customers who enjoy seeing her each week. Groceries can also be delivered to those who need that service too.

Ann says customers love the meals and some doctors at the hospital told their patients about them, when they were being discharged.

“They are plain meals, not fancy, but they’re the everyday meals that people love. They’re the meals we were brought up on as kids,” Terry adds.

Worth Travelling For

Some customers have travelled from Bribie Island, Dayboro and even Ipswich to buy meals in bulk and freeze them.

“A lot of older people don’t know we do this, their carers can pick meals up for them,” Ann said.

Some overseas-based family members are ordering meals for their loved ones, and there has even been some pay-it-forward generosity, with one woman donating hundreds of dollars to pay for meals for needy older people.

Ann says a “back to basics” style of customer service has grown loyal clientele and enabled her family to employ local people.

If they don’t stock an item, they will source it and they have changed their product line since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to include more local brands.

Customers are responding, with sales of Maleny Milk increasing from 1-2 crates a day to 9-10.

“Since COVID, a lot of people who have never been here have come in. They want to buy local and our customer service here is amazing – all the girls up the front and Ann – we make them feel at home,” Kiesha says.

Redcliffe Friendly Grocer offers catering for events, with a range of hot and cold platters and meals to choose from depending on the size of the gathering.

They also have the “best roast chickens in town”, with Terry’s stuffing recipe and seasoning.

Redcliffe Friendly Grocer is at 255B Victoria Ave, Redcliffe. It is open seven days a week from 5.30am-7.30pm. Phone 3284 7181.

Popular meal options:

• Rissoles with gravy and vegetables
• Roast meats (including silverside) with gravy and vegetables
• Sausages with gravy and vegetables
• Chicken curry with rice
• Stir Fry dishes – chicken, beef
• Potato and vegetable bakes
• Quiche
• Zucchini slice
• Vegetarian Lasagne
• Also fresh salads, homemade pies, soup, hot rolls, roast chickens, dessert and more