Big love for Little Local Co, brewers of the best coffee in the Murraylands

This story is brought to you by the Rural City of Murray Bridge, sponsors of the Murraylands Business Awards.

Seven years ago a little coffee shop opened up at Tailem Bend, creating a space for locals and visitors alike to feel warm and welcome.

Now Little Local Co, currently located on Standen Street in Murray Bridge, has won the best coffee award at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards.

Owners Amy and Neil Chinsami started from humble beginnings, running a coffee cart each Saturday for the Ramblers Netball Club.

A couple of sporting seasons and community events later, the couple found the perfect space to open up a shop front on Tailem Bend's main street.

The name of the shop came from a family member: "we wanted to stay little and local," Mr Chinsami says.

After five years in Tailem Bend, and working through a pandemic, the realisation hit that in order to continue to grow, they had to make the move to Murray Bridge.

"As we're from Murray Bridge, it was a lot ... (we were) often making multiple trips back and forth each day," Mrs Chinsami says.

"The intention was for one of us to run the Tailem (shop) and the other to run Murray Bridge, but it was so busy ... so we realised very quickly that we had to make the decision to close the Tailem (shop).

"It was really hard, because we made such great connections, built relationships and had so many locals that loved it.

"(But) when you're in business, there are decisions you have to make with your head, not so much your heart."

Little Local Co have been in Murray Bridge for three years now, and the community's support and love is obvious.

They were the overwhelming winners of the best coffee award, gaining more than 1300 votes from members of the public – almost as many as the other four finalists combined.

They were very humbled to receive the award.

"We felt the people will chose who they want, and everybody has their own regulars and following," Mrs Chinsami says.

"Sometimes you're not sure if people actually like what you do, so for us this is a confirmation that people really like what we offer."

For now, Little Local Co are happy with how they're traveling and intend to focus not only on business, but on family.

"Almost two years ago we fostered a little girl," Mrs Chinsami says.

"Life has changed so much; Little Local Co has been our baby, but now she's very much our focus."

The couple plan to stick around as long as the passion's still there, although Amy says it's hard to imagine doing anything else.

"Our outlook on life has been to not just do things for the sake of doing it, but to do it because you enjoy it," she says.

"That's how Little Local Co started."

• Visit Little Local Co: Visit 44A Standen Street, Murray Bridge between 7.30am and 2.30pm on weekdays; call 0428 569 045; or check out their Facebook page.
• Read more: Winners revealed at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards