The company, which has 25 stores in NSW, will open stores in Clayfield, in November, and a flagship store at West Village, in West End, in May next year.

The Clayfield store has history for Harris, according to co-chief executive Tristan Harris.

“We are incredibly excited to be opening at this site because Harris Farm used to own it 30 years ago before handing it over to Carlo and Susan Lorenti, who had built a strong business at the store.”

Carlo was also considered Queensland’s mango king for his annual charity act of buying the first tray of the fruit each season. The funds were directed to charities like Redkite and Life Education. Carlo and Susan even met at a Harris store in Ashfield, in Sydney.  They bought the Clayfield business in 1991 when Harris Farms made the decision to focus on its NSW business.

“It’s a full-circle story and we are thrilled that Carlo and Susan are staying on as our managers at Clayfield, along with as many staff as possible,” he said.

Harris is one of three brothers who now run the company after their parents, David and Cathy Harris, retired.

He said the two Brisbane stores would offer produce from more than 300 Queensland growers, creators and producers, including organic milk from Barambah, My Berries from Caboolture, Brisbane’s Roza’s Gourmet sauces, and organic chicken from Hobbs Family Farms Organic in Pittsworth.

In addition, the two stores combined will employ over 200 staff.

The Clayfield store will include a tomato shed, organic produce section and a leaderboard of Queensland strawberries and mangoes, as well as a gourmet grocery section of boutique local products, an extensive deli, 200 cheeses, a bakery section and a premium meat selection.

The Clayfield store will undergo a rebuild, redesign and changeover, before opening in late November as Harris Farm Markets Clayfield.

The West End store will mean Harris Farm Markets will take over part of the Peters Ice Cream building, built in the 1920s by the American migrant, Fred Peters.

“The warehouse space is nothing short of extraordinary and will allow us to build our flagship Queensland Harris Farm Markets store, with great local fruit, veg and gourmet grocery, as well as some local concession partnerships we’re really excited about.

“Opening in West Village is a fantastic opportunity, particularly given the history of fresh fruit and vegetable markets in the West End peninsula,” he said.