Hundreds queue as business mogul gives away $150,000 worth of free groceries

Australian entrepreneur Adrian Portelli has given away more than $150,000 worth of free groceries for families in western Sydney as part of his nationwide pledge to help Australians “who are doing it tough” in the lead-up to Christmas. Mr Portelli, also known as “Lambo Guy” online and renowned for purchasing all five properties on this year’s season of The Block and his giveaways, promised to give away more than $150,000 worth of groceries for struggling families in Penrith and Fairfield West in western Sydney. Given only 24 hours notice online, hundreds of eager shoppers queued up around the Penrith shopping centre and into the carpark before the supermarket opened for a chance to grab the goods. At 9.30am at Coles in Penrith, extra security was required to handle the enormous crowd that gathered at the supermarket, where Mr Portelli gave out 500 gift cards worth $100 and $200. One customer, Laura Mand, said Mr Portelli’s giveaway was “fantastic” especially amid a cost-of-living crisis. With an extra bit of support from the giveaway, she hoped to spend the money on “the little things” for her grandchildren’s Christmas stockings. “It’s so nice to see somebody give back to people instead of take, take, take,” Ms Mand told the Penrith Press. Following the morning giveaway in Penrith, Mr Portelli made his way to Coles in Fairfield West at midday and gave away another $75,000 worth of groceries to families. Once again, enormous crowds gathered at the shopping centre to take advantage of the offer, some carrying umbrellas to fend off the heat, others shaking Mr Portelli’s hand and taking selfies as they waited in line to grab the gift card. On Monday, Mr Portelli completed a similar giveaway in Tasmania, offering $75,000 worth of gift cards to residents in Hobart. The entrepreneur has pledged to give away $1m nationwide to Australians “who are doing it tough” ahead of the Christmas season.