Many of our tenants at Perth Markets have powerful stories behind their businesses, and Robert (Robbie) Sinclair of Herb-Ivore Fresh Herbs is one of them. Now based at W1 in the Markets, Robbie has built a thriving herb enterprise grounded in resilience, family and hard work.
Originally from Scotland, Robbie grew up immersed in fresh produce. His family-owned farms and wholesale businesses, so early mornings and market floors were part of everyday life. In 2015, he made the move to Australia, managing a strawberry and raspberry farm in Pemberton before relocating to Perth in 2017 with his three children, determined to give them every opportunity he could.
As a single father, his focus was unwavering: his children’s education, stability and wellbeing came first. But providing for them meant starting again. With experience in his back pocket and determination in his stride, Robbie began walking into local retailers such as IGA and asking a simple question: “What can I do for you?”
The answer revealed an opportunity: retailers needed consistent, high-quality packed herbs. Robbie got to work.
His days were relentless. School drop-offs before sunrise. Deliveries stretching to Beeliar. Afternoons back at the Markets. Evenings spent pre-packing herbs at the kitchen bench and sending invoices once the kids were in bed. It was exhausting, but giving up was never an option.
Customer by customer, the business grew and he sourced a van to help with his early delivery runs. More retailers came on board. Starting as a sub-tenant, Robbie moved between small vacant spaces at Perth Markets, steadily building relationships with wholesalers and industry peers. Before long, the Markets became the heartbeat of Herb-Ivore’s operations.
Looking for ways to stand out, Robbie introduced custom-branding for his customers; a small detail that made a big difference.
Today, Herb-Ivore remains proudly family-owned, with Robbie’s son Thomas now part of the journey. Supplying more than 100 customers across Western Australia, the team packs around 50,000 punnets each week, climbing to 110,000 during the Christmas rush.
Now operating two farms of their own and maintaining strong partnerships with wholesalers across the site, Herb-Ivore’s success is deeply rooted at Perth Markets: a story of perseverance, pride and a father’s determination to build something lasting for his family.
