Bairnsdale’s The Brew Crew Café has joined the Catering for Good directory, making it easier for local businesses to access healthier and more sustainable catering while supporting meaningful employment opportunities.
Catering for Good is a Victorian Government-funded directory connecting workplaces with nutritious food options.
The initiative, delivered through the Healthy Eating Advisory Service, provides a simple solution for workplaces seeking healthier catering while supporting local food businesses to expand their offerings.
Situated at 155 Nicholson Street in Bairnsdale, The Brew Crew Café and Banksia Fine Foods is a café and catering service supporting the community.
Operations supervisor Katrina Conn said she was introduced to the Catering for Good directory while overhauling the café’s menu.
“I was totally not aware of what was out there,” she said. “Once I had a look at their menu items, it just related to what we’re trying to implement here as well.”
With support from our health promotion officer Renate Hall, the service is now listed on the directory.
For Katrina, the value is clear.
“It’s just a really easy way to guarantee you’re getting quality food that follows and helps with the dietary requirements. It takes the hard work out of trying to source good healthy food and options in the workplace.”
Katrina’s advice to local workplaces is straightforward: “Jump on board and use the Catering for Good directory. It’s such a good service. I know for me in business, it’s really hard to find options that are suitable when you’re trying to do the right thing and watch what you eat. There’s a lot of deep-fried food out there, but there’s not much that’s done fresh and has the backing behind it to be recognised as a healthy option.”
What sets The Brew Crew Café and Banksia Fine Foods apart is its mission as a social enterprise.
The business currently employs 16 supported employees, providing comprehensive training across all aspects of café and catering operations.
“Our supported employees are engaged in hands-on training in all aspects of the café and Banksia Fine Foods. They rotate in various roles to learn skill development in the food industry,” Katrina said.
“In partnering with Catering for Good, we hope to expand our operations and build on employment opportunities to employ more staff and grow the business as a go-to within the industry.”
“I couldn’t recommend it highly enough; it was just a very easy process. All the menu options were there, and all the research was done behind it. So, it was just a no-brainer for me to jump on board. And the support from Renate made all the difference.”