CASTLEMAINE DIPS WERE FIRST SOLD AT PIERA AND RUSSELL’S STALL AT WESLEY HILL MARKET IN CASTLEMAINE.

TIRED OF THE SELECTION OF DIPS AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET, RUSSELL DECIDED TO MAKE HIS OWN HOMMUS.

AT THE TIME RUSSELL AND PIERA WERE SELLING HOMEMADE CAKES AND JAMS. THEY DECIDED TO TAKE THE HOMMUS ALONG JUST TO SEE IF ANYONE WOULD BUY IT.

THEY DID!

AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF DEVELOPING RECIPES, CASTLEMAINE DIPS WAS BORN. THE ORIGINAL DIPS WERE  FIVE DAIRY FREE, GLUTEN FREE FLAVOURS, HOMMUS, HOMMUS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, TURKISH BEETROOT, ROASTED EGGPLANT AND PUMPKIN AND BASIL THAT ARE STILL THE TOP SELLERS TODAY.

AT FIRST CASTLEMAINE DIPS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE AT ONE STORE—GREEN GOES THE GROCER IN CASTLEMAINE . LITTLE BY LITTLE THE BUSINESS GREW AND SLOWLY MOVED INTO THE LOCAL IGA AND MAXI FOODS IN CASTLEMAINE.

IN 2001 THE MARKET STALLS WERE LEFT BEHIND AND CASTLEMAINE DIPS BEGAN  WHOLESALING FULL TIME, EXPANDING INTO THE BENDIGO AND BALLARAT MARKETS.

GOING FURTHER AFIELD REQUIRED MORE FLAVOURS AND THE GLUTEN FREE DAIRY RANGE WAS BORN.

EVERY YEAR CASTLEMAINE DIPS EXPANDS A LITTLE FURTHER AND NOW CASTLEMAINE DIPS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT VICTORIA FROM MILDURA  ALL THE WAY TO ROSEBUD ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA AND AS FAR EAST AS WANGARATTA AND BENALLA.

RUSSELL AND PIERA STILL MAKE EVERYSINGLE DIP ALTHOUGH NOW THEY HAVE A LITTLE HELP IN THE KITCHEN FROM TREVOR, DAVE AND SHARNA.

TREVOR AND DAVE WORK THE LINE AND HELP KEEP THINGS MOVING WHILE SHARNA TAKES CARE OF ALL THE VEGGIE PREP, COOKS THE CHICKPEAS AND HELPS WITH DIP MAKING WHEN THINGS GET BUSY.

OWEN, DAVE AND GUDGE MAN THE PHONES ON MONDAY MORNING AND CALL EVERY STORE EACH WEEK FOR ORDERS.

OWEN, DAVE,  TREVOR AND JILL PREP AND PACK ALL THE ORDERS.  JILL AND GUDGE ALSO HELP OUT IN THE OFFICE WITH COMPUTER STUFF.

RUSSELL AND OWEN HANDLE NEW SALES WHILE PIERA HANDLES THE ACCOUNTS AND PAYS ALL THE BILLS.

AFTER ALL THE ORDERS ARE PACKED, CHECKED AND LOADED INTO OUR THREE DELIVERY VANS, STACEY— THE BIG TRANSIT, TRACEY— THE LITTLE TRANSIT AND JOHN COMBO, MIC, OWEN, DAVE AND GUDGE DRIVE THE DIPS OFF TO THEIR NEW HOMES AT A SUPERMARKET NEAR YOU EVERY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.