In a heartening tale of culinary entrepreneurship, Pecks Road Café, an artisan doughnut shop owned by Albin, Arbi and AJ Lawang has been honoured with the Mayoral Achievement Award at the 2023 Melton Business Excellence Awards.
This achievement is a testament to the determination and resilience of the Lawang brothers, who started their venture during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020. Conceived as an online platform, Pecks Road aimed to spread joy during an unprecedented time by offering treats to Melburnians with delectable doughnut deliveries.
Albin, the youngest of the three, is the mastermind behind all doughnut flavours, previously working at esteemed establishments such as Kettle Black, Higher Ground and Hellenic Republic. Arbi is the marketing, video and photo content creator of the team and AJ, the eldest, specialises in digital advertising, web design and business development.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the brothers’ commitment to quality and innovation resulted in a thriving online business. Their success led to the opening of a brick-and-mortar storefront in Caroline Springs in January 2022.
Pecks Road Café has since become renowned for its artisan doughnuts, crafted with locally sourced ingredients and inventive flavour combinations, many of which are inspired by their Filipino heritage. From traditional glazed doughnuts to unique creations like ube (Filipino purple yam), calamansi meringue and peach cobbler, the cafe has become a popular dessert spot for locals and wandering foodies alike.
The Mayoral Achievement Award recognises businesses that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to their craft and maintain a focus on community. The Lawang brothers named the cafe after the street on which they grew up to pay homage to the community that raised them.
Pecks Road Café has gained recognition for their efforts in community service. The team dedicates a weekly donation of fresh doughnuts and sandwiches to a pop-up kitchen for the homeless at Queen Victoria Market and have also recently participated in fundraisers for victims of the Maui wildfires, alongside Migrant, West Footscray.
