Businesses in Southbank

A passion for organic, wholesome and healthy living.

Having moved to Southbank three years ago, Broad Bean Organic Grocer’s Paul Bullivant said he and co-owner Andrew Crompton initially found it tough to access the sort of food they were looking for in the area.

“We found it very difficult to access the kind of food that we were after, which is organic, wholesome, healthy food,” he said.

“We figured that for a suburb, which I think is the third-fastest growing in Victoria, there was a huge gap for being able to access that sort of stuff so we decided to do it ourselves.”

It is an initiative that has well and truly paid dividends for the pair, as the Fanning St store continues to go from strength to strength.

Paul said the decision to go organic stems from the pair’s personal values, which is something the Southbank community has whole-heartedly embraced since Broad Bean opened its doors.

“We decided to go organic because it sets the highest benchmark,” he said. “Organics take in to account the health benefits; it takes into account the environmental impact, the impact on animals and animal welfare.”

“Organic farming is the second or third fastest growing industry in the country and I think that’s because a lot of people are a becoming a lot more aware of their food choices and their consumption choices.”

As well as groceries, Broad Bean offers everything organic from smoothies, cold pressed juices and fresh meals; through to gluten free or vegan friendly raw treats and cruelty-free personal care products.

Paul said the overwhelmingly positive response from the community was proof that the area was crying out for an organic store.

“It obviously demonstrates that there was that need, we have residents telling us that they were waiting for something like this and workers wanted healthy, wholesome lunches,” he said.

Now an established part of the Southbank community, Paul said he and Andrew couldn’t be happier to be doing what they love anywhere else.

“Southbank people are awesome, we moved here three years ago and we’re never going to move away,” he said.

“Even in that space of three years it’s come a long way and there’s so much happening, it’s just coming alive and Southbank is the place to be.”

Broad Bean Organic Grocer is open 7 days a week at Shop 3, 26 Fanning St Southbank.