THE Wimmera’s first Asian grocery store opened in Pynsent Street, Horsham, on Monday.
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Wimmera Asian Groceries is owned by two Indian couples – Biny George and Anil Kumar and Alex and Bincy Mathews.
Ms George said they hoped to boost Wimmera residents’ access to a wide range of groceries from countries throughout Asia.
With food forming an integral part of people’s culture, the team at the Asian grocery hopes it might have a part to play in attracting and retaining migrants to the region.
‘‘Our main goal is to make more things accessible,’’ Ms George said.
‘‘I think it’s one of the main reasons why people are moving from Horsham to different places where you can get these groceries.’’
The owners agreed it was difficult to find Indian groceries when they moved to the Wimmera.
‘‘Everybody has to go to Melbourne to buy things,’’ Ms George said.
She said many people were keen to cook with Asian ingredients but had to travel to find them.
‘‘A lot of people have been asking, ‘We have a recipe, but where do you get the ingredients?’ So this is an opportunity for them,’’ she said..
‘‘We do have ready-to-cook meals for anyone who doesn’t want to do it from scratch as well.’’
Wimmera Asian Groceries also stocks a range of spices, sauces, frozen fish and vegetables and sweets.
While the shop will service migrants living in the Wimmera, Mr Kumar estimated about 90per cent of its customers were from non-Asian backgrounds.
‘‘They’re very keen to try everything and they say, ‘Oh, now I don’t have to go to Melbourne’,’’ Ms George said.
The team also plans to give free recipes to customers.
Ms George said in the next couple of months, the grocery store would start taking orders for fresh fish and vegetables, which would be available once a month.
People can also request specific items in a visitors book.