About Scoop

Rachel McMillan has been passionate about food and fresh country produce from a very early age. Born and raised in country NSW, her early years were spent in a hearty food culture helping out with the family's holiday farm, including preparing and accommodating meals for up to forty guests at a time.

After many years of country life, the family relocated to Sydney. Rachel completed her secondary studies and started working in hospitality during high school. Her talents were so great in this area that she was managing restaurants by her late teens, and then moved on to become the youngest ever Assistant Manager in the Sydney Hilton.

This success continued where after many years with the Hilton, she relocated to Adelaide to take up a position at the prestigious Embassy hotel, with the Pacific Hotels Group. After a short time she was promoted to General Manager. This role then expanded to take on HR and Operations Manager for their other boutique hotel, The Pier, in Glenelg.

In 2004, the Pacific Hotels Group was sold, and Rachel capitalised on the opportunity to start her own venture, SCOOP SA.

As a resident of the Fleurieu Peninsula, Rachel had become very familiar with the seasonal variations in produce and had always been an integral member of the local foodie community - proud of the incredible range and quality of local foods and herbs. It was then that Rachel identified a gap in the market. No one was distributing Fleurieu produce grown in the region to the local restaurants.

  • 1McMillan Family

    The McMillan family on their property Culbara, near Tumut NSW.
  • 1Cabbage Patch Kid

    Rachel and Nathan's daughter, Alexandra.
  • 1Sellicks Home Base

    Nathan McKay working in the olive grove.
  • 1Deliveries Finished!

    Alexandra and Annette (Nang Nang).
  • 1Autumn Crop

    Lucas & Lexi helping with the Jerusalem artichoke harvest.

With a refrigerated truck and a clear vision, SCOOP SA commenced trading, and to this day now distributes these fresh fine foods and herbs to many of the pre eminent chefs and restaurants on the peninsula.

Testament to the success of this concept, SCOOP SA was awarded Fleurieu Peninsula Food Business of the Year in 2006, competing against the biggest and most established names in the food and wine industry.

Rachel is also an active volunteer member of the Fleurieu Food community, with positions held since 2007 including Chair of Fleurieu Peninsula Food, a founding member and now Chair of the Victor Harbor Farmers Market, member of (and retired Chair) the Cittaslow Food and Wine Group and member of the Singing Cricket, a local food co-op. Rachel is also on the newly re-formed Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism Committee and a founding member of the Industry Round Table.

Rachel's varied and wide expertise in all things food means that she also runs SCOOP Gourmet - five star quality fresh produce direct to the public at the Victor Harbor Farmers Market each Saturday.