What’s Love Got to do with the Creation of Fabulous Food? Everything!
The History of Yarra Valley Preserves / Yarra Valley Gourmet Foods
YVGF started as the brainchild of a husband and wife team more than twenty years ago. Originally, sales were primarily generated at local market stalls. Peter, the original owner, still features in our logo which is synonymous with picking the best fresh produce from local Yarra Valley sources and surrounds. The company started in the back room of a house, and now operates with gusto from a purpose-built manufacturing facility in Seville, Victoria – right in the heartland of the Yarra Valley, Melbourne. Here our gorgeous jams, chunky chutneys, rustic relishes, and super-delicious sauces and salad splashes are manufactured in small batches. The fruit and veg is all-Australian, it’s hand selected from the best local and regional growers, and we don’t use preservatives or emulsifiers. Our cooking is all-natural and most of our range is Gluten-free.
Since giving up a very successful corporate life as Managing Director of Fyna Foods (think Wizz Fizz) and Sales Manager of Nestle/Peter’s Ice Cream, in 2008, YVGF Managing Director, Jacqui Harvey, has taken the company to now become a full-blown adult with stockists across the whole of Australia, and parts of Asia and the United Arab Emirates. Our clients include Woolworths, IGA, Ritchies, Leos, gourmet butchery and providore food stores, and countless gift shops who find the tourists who come their way just LOVE our products – especially as gifts to take back home to the people they care about.
The concept of the company was founded on the Country Women’s Association model
“We take great pride in creating artisan food products for everyday foodies. We champion local produce and take a hand-made approach to everything. Our food is boutique, it’s rich in quality and the taste is extraordinary.
Our point of difference is that we’ve stuck to the basics – Fresh ingredients, No added Colours, Preservative-free as much as possible, and Australian Grown. And our employees are all local area residents, too. We’ve kept it simple! We don’t use substitutes – we use real tomatoes, real quinces, real chefs and everything is crafted with a passionate drive to deliver Aussie products that leave you wanting more.”
Our Lead Chef, Chris Peel, has championed our local produce into an impressive variety of ranges, using innovative flavour combinations, and our team regularly researches, develops and releases new lines. Recently we added superb Saltbush & Black Garlic Mustard, a moreish Mountain Pepper Tomato Ketchup, and a beautiful Black Garlic & Wild Thyme Worcestershire Sauce to our range. Toffeed Balsamic & Vanilla Syrup has returned due to popular demand, too. There’s a flavour bombing world-class, ready-pour cooking sauce selection coming soon, and we can’t wait to share them with our already raving fans.
Yarra Valley Gourmet Foods Product Range Includes Sweet, Savoury & Spicy Condiments
Gluten-free and Vegan Friendly Foods are a highlight of YVGF. Our buyers can purchase from our online shop, visit our farmgate store in Seville, or find us in a Stockist’s Store around Australia with ease. And for those of you who like to spice it up, we have our Mad Dog Hot and Spicy Range of Chilli Jams, Salsas, Jalapeno Sauces and Mustards. For some it makes their eyes water. For others, it’s a case of ‘bring it on’.
Our Beautiful Packaging Reflects All Australian-made Quality & our Pricing is Moderate
– because we want our foods to remain affordable.
Starting from $2.75 retail,
our Yarra Valley Preserves and Yarra Valley Condiments can be purchased individually, or you can select from our range of Gift Hampers and Small Gift Packs. We can process your order with customised products. We’ll post it direct to your address, or prepare a gift card and send it direct to the Birthday Gift, Corporate Gift or Wedding Gift recipient, or to someone who needs a wellbeing boost.
Future Plans
Yarra Valley Gourmet Foods is always looking for exciting ways to grow and, over the next twelve months, we have plans afoot to extend our warehouse, establish a new onsite tourism venue, and broaden our offering by instigating regular tours, cooking demonstrations and an art gallery. In the not-too-distant future, you’ll be able to pop in for a coffee, wander through our custom-built hydroponic greenhouse, smell our delicious wafts of cooking condiments, and learn about the process of what makes us tick.
Make no mistake, though, we don’t want to become a monolithic business operation.
Our success is founded on the CWA (Country Women’s Association) and real food cooking skills….
that’s part of our appeal – everything we do is about doing it real!
“For me,” says Jacqui Harvey, “I love the Yarra Valley and being able to share Australia’s wonderful produce through YVGF is just a dream come true.”
Find out more about what we do BLOGS
Drop into our Farmgate Store – 814 Warburton Highway, Seville, Victoria (Opening hours Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm)
Purchase a Birthday Gift Hamper, Wedding Gift Hamper or Care Package Hamper