In the heart of Sydney, a sandwich entrepreneur with a multi-award-winning recipe for success is using his platform for profound community good. Avi Labi, the force behind the celebrated South Dowling Sandwiches, has a powerful and simple message for his fellow Australians: supporting your local small business is the key to keeping the nation alive.
More Than Just an Award-Winning Sandwich
This ball of community-minded energy does far more than just create delicious food. Through his South Dowling Sandwiches stores, Avi actively feeds the homeless who find themselves searching through bins near his inner-city Sydney locations. His charitable spirit extends to making donations to children's cancer research and providing support for survivors of domestic violence.
His passion for giving back even sees him collaborating with celebrities like DJs Hugo and Jimmy to create special, award-winning sandwiches. These unique creations are then auctioned, raising thousands of dollars for various charitable causes. As a former soldier, Avi also dedicates himself to helping hundreds of returned servicemen and women with PTSD get access to the psychological help they need.
"God blessed us. We are okay. But there are a lot of people around us who are not," Avi says, explaining his drive. "The best feeling is to give back to those guys in need."
From Humble Shop to a National Institution
The story of South Dowling Sandwiches is one of local triumph. Avi took over a humble sandwich shop 16 years ago, which has since been transformed into a veritable institution. The store is a two-time winner of the best sandwich in Australia award, a accolade that attracts food lovers from across the country. Its reputation is so strong that visiting AFL clubs, as well as local Swans and GWS players, are known to stop by.
This is very much a family-run business, a true labour of love. Avi works alongside his wife Helen, his daughter Jordana, and his son-in-law Kevin, all committed to continuing the shop's incredible legacy.
A Champion for the Back Australia Campaign
Given his deep community ties, it is no surprise that the big-hearted sandwich hero is an enthusiastic supporter of the Back Australia campaign. He emphasises that many small businesses are currently struggling and desperately need locals to get behind them.
"We are here to stay forever," Avi states with conviction. "Overseas companies, they are not. If they don't make the money, they pack up and go and leave us with nothing. Anything you can do to support small businesses, that's what keeps the country alive. That's what keeps the streets busy."
This belief in local enterprise is shared by his banking partners. Avi beams when he recounts how Westpac responded when he sought funding to open a second store. "They said, how much do you need? I told them, and they said, 'done'. In one day. Because they knew the business and where I was going," he says.
Anthony Mathews, National GM of SME & Small Business at Westpac, confirmed the bank's immediate recognition of Avi's venture. He said Westpac understood that South Dowling Sandwiches is "something truly special, and it's not just the food." Mathews added, "When we saw what he was building, we knew we had to back him. That's what we do at Westpac, we support businesses with real potential and owners who genuinely care."
