We’re honoured to be featured in SBS Food’s latest article on specialty grocery stores across Australia—a moving reflection on how places like Gong Grocer do more than just stock shelves. We help people feel at home.
The article captures the essence of what it means to walk into a grocery store and instantly be transported—not just geographically, but emotionally. For many immigrants, the first trip to a local specialty grocer is a rite of passage. It’s the moment a strange new place begins to feel a little more familiar. A little more like home.
A Family Legacy Built on Heritage
At Gong Grocer, we take that responsibility seriously. As SBS highlights, our story begins with family—specifically, ‘Ah Gong’, our late grandfather, whose name lives on through our store. As a multigenerational family business rooted in decades of supermarket retailing, our mission has always been simple: to preserve and proudly share our cultural heritage.
“Our store exists not only to preserve heritage, but to proudly share it with customers from all generations and backgrounds, offering a space where people feel seen, connected, and celebrated.”
— Brian Nguyen, Managing Director of Gong Grocer
A Place of Belonging in the Heart of Sydney
SBS notes how specialty grocers have long been community anchors—spaces where people gather not just for groceries, but for identity, memory, and culture. In our World Square store, we’ve built a place that honours that spirit.
From Vietnamese herbs and Thai snacks, to Korean sauces and Chinese condiments, every aisle reflects the diversity of Asia. And beyond the products, it’s about the feeling—whether it's nostalgia for grandma’s cooking or discovering something new that sparks joy.
Our goal? To create a space where all generations—immigrant elders, second-gen food lovers, and curious new customers—can shop side by side, celebrating the richness of Asian food culture.
A Growing, Diverse Community
As SBS beautifully captures, specialty grocery stores are thriving. With over 1,000 Asian grocers across the country, these spaces have grown from niche to essential. And at Gong Grocer, we’ve seen this growth firsthand.
We’re proud to serve not only our Asian-Australian community but also a wider audience eager to explore food as a bridge to culture.
More Than Just a Supermarket
To be featured alongside other beloved institutions like Radhe, Latin Deli, and Dong Nam A Brothers is an honour. Like them, we believe in the power of food to tell stories, keep traditions alive, and bring people together.
At Gong Grocer, every product has a purpose, every shelf a story—and every customer is part of the journey.
Thank you to SBS Food for sharing our story, and to our community for making Gong Grocer what it is today: a home away from home.
Read the full article here.