Ingpen family business celebrates 50 years in business

VICTORIA

Ingpen family celebrates 50 years in business

In 1972 James Ingpen purchased the Big Star Grocery Store in Mt Evelyn and after trading for twelve months just breaking even, he bought in his eldest son Gemmell to help run the business. Together they grew the business and in 1975 the family purchased their local competitor’s supermarket.

James Ingpen’s principles in business were simple and always reinforced that “the customer is king, and your staff keep the king coming back”. He placed a lot of value on being involved and contributing to his local community.

James younger son Tony joined the business in 1982 as the store converted to running under the Riteway banner. The store went on to trade under many other banners including SuperRite, Foodtown and SSW before finally settling as an IGA Everyday branded store.

In 2000 the family built and relocated its business into a larger brand new store where they still trade today.

In 2005, after thirty-four years as a successful retailer, James Ingpen was inducted into the IGA Hall of Fame. His eldest son Gemmell decided to pursue other interests and left the business in 2010 leaving Tony to take over the running of the business. Sadly, both James and his wife passed away in 2012.

Tony decided to continue his father’s legacy and complete a total refurbishment of the store which now trades as the IGA Mt Evelyn in October 2022, in time to celebrate the family’s fiftieth anniversary. The event was attended by over eighty people including the local community, fellow retailers, and key industry stakeholders, including Metcash F & G CEO Scott Marshall.

In his address to the audience, Tony reiterated his father’s passion for the independent sector and his commitment to the local Mt Evelyn Community and his family’s desire to continue his father’s legacy. MGA congratulates the Ingpen family for reaching such an impressive milestone in achieving fifty years of retail service to the Mt Evelyn community.

IGA Mt Evelyn