Wray Organic Market and Cafe will open on the corner of Marius and Fitzroy streets on February 10, with the signage going up last Wednesday and the interior in the final stages of completion.

Deborah Wray, who with partner Gary Davis opened their first store on the Gold Coast a decade ago, said it was an exciting time as they prepared to throw open the doors of their first NSW business.

She was last week finalising the employment of the 16 to 20 staff who’ll be the faces of Wray Organic in Tamworth and organising the stock that has just started to arrive.

The business will offer a cafe and a full range of certified organic grocery items, including fruit and vegetables.

The pair are now living in Tamworth in preparation for the opening, but already knew a lot about the region, even before identifying it as an expansion prospect.

They have family in Gunnedah and have been festival visitors in the past.

“People ask ‘why Tamworth?’” Ms Wray said.

“It’s an outstanding city and we’ve thought that on the other occasions when we’ve visited.

“When we were setting out to (look for new locations), we thought ‘why not, let’s do it here’.”

While the store will open its doors on February 10, the grand opening will take place on Saturday, February 13, with cooking demonstrations by Ms Wray and tastings of many of the products the business has in stock.