10 minute read
MGA Board meets in Adelaide
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
From 23 to 25 March 2022, MGA’s Board of Directors met in Adelaide, South Australia – the first face to face Board meeting in the last twelve months and second in two years. Board meetings since the pandemic have been held by video conference.
In late February-early March, small businesses were affected by unprecedented and devastating heavy rain across northern New South Wales and Queensland.
Covid-19 restrictions have been uncertain and different in each state over the past two years, disallowing Board members (Australian population) to travel freely as was the case prior to Covid-19.
Board members were excited to reengage with our South Australian members face-to-face and grateful for the opportunity to not only conduct the Board meeting in Adelaide, but to also visit some outstanding food and grocery supermarkets.
The Board meeting was conducted on Thursday 24 March and held in the Boardroom at the newly relocated Foodland House, now based on the corner of Frome and Flinders streets in Adelaide CBD.
The new Foodland House is centrally located and has outstanding office facilities and amenities for Foodland staff and members to enjoy and be proud.
Board members had very productive and rewarding days in Adelaide. Thank you to South Australian members and industry stakeholders for making us feel very welcome.
South Australian members are performing an amazing job competing against the two giants and German retailer. The independent sector in South Australia has a strong market share and competition is intense with food and grocery prices being the most economical in Australia.
MGA Board meets in Foodland House
The Board of Directors conducted their meeting in the Foodland House Boardroom. This opportunity gave Foodland CEO, Franklin dos Santos, and Marketing Director, Chris Villani, together with Foodland Board Chairman, Sam Zucco, to present and discuss the vision and future growth objectives of Foodland in South Australia. Foodland has many exciting plans to help differentiate itself from the chains and Aldi.
MGA Board and Foodland executives
MGA President Debbie Smith, Foodland CEO Franklin dos Santos & Marketing Director Chris Villani
MGA Board meeting held in Foodland House Boardroom with CEO Franklin dos Santos (centre) and Chairman Sam Zucco
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Congratulations to Foodland celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. Foodland will predicate all business activities for the future on three main objectives – 1. Sustainability, 2. Growth, 3. Brand.
The Foodland team has committed to reducing its carbon footprint in all stores, introducing waste and energy saving solutions to all Foodland members. Foodland aims to avoid waste going to landfill completely being part of the circular economy, and to significantly reduce reliance on energy through solar and energy reclaim solutions. Foodland’s emphasis will be to reduce the Group’s carbon footprint, driving business growth and endearing Foodland to environment-conscious South Australians.
True to all independents, Foodland will continue to differentiate its offer with a commitment to support local fresh food growers and food producers, presenting customers with diversity of choice.
This assurance will strengthen a local community eco system of small businesses, supporting each other and interdependent on each other. This local economic activity creates employment and a strong community culture which customers desire.
Foodland’s mantra is “Unity is our Strength and our Diversity is our Strength”
Whilst in Adelaide the Board seized the opportunity to visit a number of state-of-the-art food and grocery supermarkets. The retail standards on show were outstanding, demonstrating why the independents are strong in South Australia and able to compete favourably with the chains and Aldi.
Romeos Foodland Rundle Mall
Romeos Executive, Paul Romeo, met the Board at one of their most recent Adelaide CBD developments, Romeos Foodland in Rundle Mall. Paul showed the Board around the store and discussed various points of difference the store offers consumers. These include salad bar, sushi bar, flower store, patisserie and bakery, cheese room, home cooked take home meals and the list continues.
Excellently designed, this central Adelaide food and grocery store lifestyle store with a full supermarket offer, as well as a café, is stunning, enticing Adelaide CBD workers and residents to shop at the store for daily food and grocery needs.
It was great to also meet up with Queensland’s Raelene Hopper, from the Hopper Group in the store. Raelene and her team were also admiring this remarkable store, searching for new food and grocery retail ideas for the Hoppers Group in Queensland.
Romeos, Paul Romeo (right) with MGA board members Lincoln Wymar (left) & Ripple Parekh (centre)
L-R: Debbie Smith, Grant Hinchcliff, Terry Slaughter and Raelene Hopper, Hopper Group QLD Romeos Deli: Paul Romeo (far right) with members of the MGA Board
Romeos Easter display
Romeos Bakery
Romeos Deli and prepared meals
Romeos Sushi & Salad Bar
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
City East IGA
The Board visited Theo Vlassis’s City East IGA Convenience Store in Hutt Street Adelaide. Theo’s store was adversely affected during the COVID-19 lockdown period but was able to sustain itself with local residents valuing superb take home meal solutions, as well as the strong convenient fresh food.
Despite the small footprint, this store offers a vast range of food and groceries, as well as general merchandise. Locals have come to rely upon this store for their food and grocery needs.
Drakes Warehouse front of building
City East IGA Theo Vlassis (centre) with Debbie Smith (left) & Lincoln Wymar (right) City East IGA Deli
Theo Vlassis (far right) with Debbie Smith (center) & Terry Slaughter (right) City East IGA Deli
Drakes Warehouse – Edinburgh
Almost three years ago Roger Drake embarked upon becoming a truly independent food and grocery operator, investing in a new state-ofthe-art wide range warehouse. The warehouse distributes dry, chilled, and frozen food and groceries, as well as general merchandise, to Drakes Family Supermarkets across Adelaide and South Australia.
Located in Edinburgh on the outskirts of Adelaide, Drakes Supermarkets Warehouse boasts a highly trained and motivated workforce, as well as the latest in warehouse technology and efficiencies to support all stores with immediate, on time deliveries of goods.
Roger Drake and the Warehouse Manager gave the Board a comprehensive tour of the Warehouse and its operations, explaining features of the operation and praising the people involved from day one, with the design, planning, and building of the warehouse.
Congratulations to the Drake Family and staff for achieving this milestone in South Australia.
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Drakes Warehouse Boardroom: MGA Board with Roger Drake front right)
Drakes Warehouse Roger Drake (2nd left) briefing
Drakes Warehouse tour with Roger Drake
Drakes Family Supermarket Eyre
Not far from Drakes Supermarket Edinburgh Warehouse is the recently developed Drakes family Supermarket in the suburb of Eyre. Roger Drake met the Board in store and handed over to Store Manager, Craig Denengelse. Approximately 2,500 square metres in size with spacious aisles, this store boasts an offer that would delight any customer. This is a full-service supermarket with fresh departments, produce, meat, bakery, chicken, delicatessen, all well presented with an extensive range for customers.
Craig explained the new concept store within a store is working well with consumers embracing the shopping experience – a special kombucha bar, popcorn dispenser, gelateria, Nonnas pasta bar and Little Kitchen for home cooked meals and snacks.
A wonderful local community store that the Drakes family can be proud.
Drakes Supermarket Eyre Roger Drake (2nd left) & Board
Drakes Supermarket Eyre Health & Well Being
Drakes Supermarket Eyre Little Kitchen
Drakes Warehouse racking Drakes Supermarket Eyre Manager Craig Denengelse ( 2nd right) with Board
Drakes Warehouse Roger & Warehouse Manager briefing Drakes Supermarket Eyre MGA Board members
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Cellarbrations bottle shop in Eyre shopping centre
The Eyre shopping centre boasts a Drakes Family bottleshop bannered as Cellarbrations. The store stands next to the Drakes Family Supermarket and has been well received by the local community.
Owing to the restrictive South Australian packaged liquor laws, very few members have been able to acquire a packaged liquor license in South Australia.
When members do obtain packaged liquor license “they do it superbly well” and more than compete with the “house brand heavy” chains stores.
This bottle shop is magnificently conceived allowing customers to easily shop for their preferred beverage. Wines are organised into categories with many local South Australian wines stocked. There is an extensive range of packaged beers, wines, spirits, and ready to drink providing customers with the choice they have come to expect from independent bottle shops.
The store is well presented and a credit to the operating staff. Each display and product layout initiative is deliberately designed to enhance a customer’s shopping experience and encourage them to return.
Drakes Celebrations Eyre
Drakes Celebrations inside store Drakes Celebrations Eyre Chiller
Chapley Family Saints Foodland in Salisbury
The Board was recommended to visit the Chapleys Family Saints Foodland Supermarket in Salisbury.
Drakes Celebrations Eyre front counter
Drakes Celebrations Eyre Roger Drake & MGA Board Chapleys Saints Foodland Salisbury front entrance
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
MGA Board with Saints Store Manager Alex Moster
Chapleys Saints committed to renewables
Chapleys Saints fresh Food Hall
Chapleys Saints Deli
This incredible store, employing over two hundred staff and managed by Alex Moster, has set new retail standards, with a superb range of fresh and dry food and grocery products readily available to local customers. Located in the Salisbury Shopping Centre complex, this store is a drawcard for the locals, as well as many customers coming from many kilometers around the area.
The store has been laid out to provide maximum convenience and comfort for customers in terms of space, lighting, temperature, and ambience, whilst boasting one of the best fresh food offers in South Australia.
The range of local and imported cheeses, meats, charcuterie, delicatessen items, bakery items is extensive providing a significant selection to customers. The bakery area has a café with full in-house seating, offering freshly baked pizzas, pastries, cakes, and coffee.
Every aspect of the store reeks of class and quality in a way that customers feel very welcome and comfortable. Staff are all trained in customer service and go to great lengths to make customers feel welcome.
A feature of the store is its commitment to waste reduction, recycling, and renewable energy. A roof full of solar panels power this store. Inside the store a large display TV screen indicates the amount of solar energy generated and result saving of a quantum of trees or kilometers travelled. This initiative is not only an instore saving but demonstrates to customers that the store is committed to caring for the environment and our planet.
Congratulations to the Chapley Family, Store Manager, Alex Moster, and all the Saints Foodland staff for presenting an unforgettable customer shopping experience.
Chapley Saints Cheeses
Chapleys Saints solar savings
Drakes Family Supermarket Fulham Gardens
When the Drake Family learned there would be a state-of-the-art Woolworths store added onto the Fulham Gardens Shopping Centre where a Drakes Family supermarket resided, the Drakes team sprung to action to future proof the store against expected fierce competition from the Woolworths store.
After surveying local customers to ascertain their needs and wants, the Drakes team embarked upon a complete refurbishment of the store.
Boasting the longest and most stocked delicatessen in the southern hemisphere, the Drakes team added a store within a store concept by including a full self-serve multi-flavoured Kombucha bar, a popcorn and flavoured popcorn dispenser, a Nonnas pasta bar, an extensive Little Kitchen for take home meals, an Italian gelateria bar, a selfserve butchery, a local take home meals section and an amazing bakery section all resulting in offering customers an exceptional and unique customer shopping experience.
NATIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
This store delivers an exceptional customer shopping experience that has stood up against the powerful Woolworths some fifty metres away.
Drakes Fulham Gardens Popcorn Drakes Fulham Gardens Nonnas Pasta
Drakes Fulham Gardens trolley bay & entrance Drakes Fulham Gardens little kitchen Drakes Fulham Gardens Kombucha
Drakes Fulham Gardens
