As the proud CEO of Ritchies Stores, a position I have held since 1994, I am honoured to pay tribute to our founder Thomas Ritchie and to the dedicated people who continue the stewardship of Ritchies Stores up to the present day. When a young Thomas Ritchie survived a shipwreck and swam to the shore near Point Nepean back in 1853, who would have thought his legacy would be a supermarket and liquor retailing chain currently spread right up the East Coast of Australia? We are dedicating 2020 to honouring Thomas and celebrating Ritchies' 150th Birthday − a unique milestone in Australian retail history. The following pages provide an outline of the history of Ritchies Stores from 1870, when the first Ritchies General Store was established by Thomas Ritchie in Frankston, Victoria. We would like to share our story so you may understand how we came to be Australia's largest independent in the supermarket and liquor retail industry. Fred Harrison CEO/Director
During world wars and peacetime, recessions and booms – through bad times and many, many great times – Ritchies has proven that with dedication, passion and commitment, an Independent can succeed in a market dominated by the big players. That the name Ritchies has remained a constant through a long and remarkable history is testament to the integrity and goodwill that our brand has always represented. Ritchies has continued Thomas’s philosophy of supporting local communities. Inspired in part by his “shilling for every pound” scheme, our Community Benefit program has provided much needed funds to many Clubs, Schools and Charities. It is exciting to know that we will pay our 50 millionth dollar to a worthy beneficiary early in 2020. We hope you enjoy the read.
THE RITCHIE ERA
04
THE TOMASETTI ERA
10
THE MORRIS ERA
14
THE CAMERON ERA
18
THE CARSON ERA
22
THE HARRISON ERA
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OUR STORY STA R T S HE R E
FOLLOW OUR TIMELINE HISTORY
117 DAYS
THE
RITCHIE ERA 1852 THE
goldfields lured 18-year-old Manxman Thomas Ritchie to Australia in 1852. He saw no future for himself on the Isle of Man, with its age-old agriculture and fishing industries. He built up a stock of sturdy boots to sell on the goldfields and boarded the barque Isabella Watson.
After 117 days at sea, the ship sailed safely through the hazardous western entrance t o Bass Strait. At dusk it entered Port Phillip Heads, nearing Point Nepean, and passed through the rip, finally reaching smooth water. The passengers began to relax.
In moments, a squall sprang up. The ship wheeled and struck the now infamous Corsair Rock. Lifeboats were launched and in the high seas nine passengers perished. Thomas washed ashore clinging to the ship’s spar. His supply of boots was lost. But not his ambition. Thomas’s family followed, migrating the next year. Thomas, after unsuccessfully trying his hand at mining, opened a grocery store with his brother James at Gardiners Creek, later known as Malvern. In 1854 Thomas moved to a small fishing village called Frankston, where he bought four acres of land at Oliver’s Hill, overlooking the bay. There he wed an Irish lass called Maggie Kennedy.
THE RITCHIE ERA
Melbourne Fish Market
A typical day at the Melbourne Fish Market
Thomas Ritchie (lower right) and Frankston Fish Co.
1858
FIRST OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL GAME First organised game of Australian Rules football is held in Melbourne.
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1867
Thomas
soon became involved in a cartage business that brought fish from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula to the Melbourne markets. With partners, he formed the Frankston Fish Company in 1867. It became a successful venture, at its peak turning over ÂŁ20,000 a year.
In the late 1860s, Thomas and Maggie moved on, selling their house and land and purchasing an allotment in Frankston town, bordered by Bay and Playne Streets. Here they built a sixroomed cottage and outbuildings with a shop attached.
In 1870 Thomas established the first Ritchies General Store on their land in Bay Street. In 1872 he applied for a licence to sell liquor, which was granted in the following year.
Postcard of the Ritchies buildings on Lot 14: the new corner general store, the adjacent chaff and grain store, and next door, the Ritchie residence, Ballacrane House. Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
1870
Bay Street 1886
The general store was the focus of the neighbourhood and district. Products were sourced straight from the manufacturers and everything was sold in bulk. Barrels, more expensive than sacks and packing cases, might contain tobacco, tea, nails or butter and, once opened, would serve as holding bins for displaying goods.
Products were wrapped in brown paper or newspaper and tied with string. Eggs were bought from locals and sold individually. Home-cured bacon was sliced from the slab; cheese was cut from a huge wheel; flour was sold bulk and scooped from great bins; sweets were housed in large jars. Everything was weighed on cumbersome measuring scales.
Thomas had other strings to his bow. Teaming up with his partners, he branched out into another sound venture – general auctioneering and real estate.
Land, houses, furniture, horses and cattle were auctioned by the group. His other ventures included one of Frankston’s first bakeries, with Thomas Ryan installed as baker. Thomas also began a business cutting and supplying wood.
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THE RITCHIE ERA
1876
IN
the mid'80s Thomas built the Ballacrain House Temperance Hotel, named for his birthplace on the Isle of Man. It soon doubled in size. He purchased more land and expanded across Playne Street. In the late 1880s, to cater for the burgeoning tourist trade, Thomas extended the Temperance Hotel, which became known as Frankston Coffee Palace, or Frankston House. Underneath, it continued to house Ritchies General Stores and a number of other shops.
By 1876-7, Ritchies original stone building had expanded to 13 rooms, still with outbuildings and 16 stables. During the land boom of the 1880s, Thomas opened on his allotment a separate produce store, selling grain and corn. In the mid-1880s he became the major shareholder in the Frankston Brick Company, which by the end of the prosperous decade reached a capacity of 24,000 bricks a day.
"Thomas Ritchie had more to do with Frankston than any other man still living"
Ballacrain House Temperance Hotel, about 1888 (honouring the original store by the 'EST 1870' on the faรงade), now rebuilt, with an expanded six verandah posts.
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Bay Street 1910
In 1891 came the Great Crash and a decadelong depression. The population of Frankston declined from 794 in 1891 to 523 in 1901. Thomas was caught up in the land collapse. The Frankston Brick Company went into liquidation, but by then Thomas had extracted himself. He frequently rearranged his finances and mortgages to counter downturns in the economy. In 1892 Thomas Ritchie announced his general store’s first “Great Cash Sale”, advertising “special bargains for specially dull times”.
The youngest Ritchie, Florence, managed the general store on the original allotment. Thomas Jnr managed the grain store, now moved across Playne Street. Daughter Rose ran the Coffee Palace on the original land. Their widowed daughter, Jannet Pownall, managed the newly built (and newly spelt) Ballacrane House on their new allotment.
1901
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION
Thomas Ritchie offered a “shilling for every pound” spent in his store. Healthy competition in grocery advertising began in Frankston.
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia unite to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
In 1901 Thomas opened a grain store branch at nearby Somerville and soon afterwards combined that with a general store. In 1902-3 the Frankston general store was moved across to the north west corner of Playne and Bay Streets and daughter Jannet Pownall took on the running of the business.
Daughter Jannet Pownall moved on to manage a general store at Mile Bridge and daughter Rose Deane then became the everyday face of Ritchies’ General Store (known as the “corner store”) until the end of the 1920s. She advertised it as the only licensed grocer in the district.
Thomas and his wife Maggie died in 1907, one month apart. A newspaper report noted that “in the early days Thomas Ritchie had more to do with Frankston than any other man still living”.
In 1928, Rose sold the business (and later the property) to Melville Charles Tomasetti.
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THE
TOMASETTI ERA 1928 THE
Tomasettis were of Swiss descent. Melville’s grandfather, Gaetano Tomasetti, was the son of a stonemason in a small Swiss village, and migrated to Australia, settling in Daylesford. His son Charles changed course, convinced that money could best be made through trade. Charles established a number of general stores in
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country Victoria then with his wife and family moved to Melbourne for the children’s education. Son Melville also followed the retail path. He ran a post office and general store in Aspendale, and was one half of Tomasetti and Son, Grocers at 346 Chapel St, South Yarra. He later managed a licensed grocery business in High Street, St Kilda.
In 1928, in the early years of the Depression, Melville took over Ritchies’ weatherboardfronted corner store in Frankston. Rose Deane continued to play a part in the background, making up the wine for Melville until 1942.
Pictured: Gaetano Tomasetti's house at Blampied. His second wife, Catherine Fitzpatrick.
Melville Tomasetti, WW1
1932
TOMASETTI
PHAR LAP
After winning the Melbourne Cup, two Cox Plates, the AJC Derby and the Agua Caliente Handicap in Tijuana, Phar Lap died suddenly in mysterious circumstances in California.
Melville introduced a wide range of products, along with unusual and exotic merchandise. Products included continental delicacies such as crab meat, pure mocha, New Zealand blue cod, Shetland cod, lima beans, almonds from Jordan, figs in glove boxes and any quantity of ales “right off the ice”. His slogan was “service with a smile” and he advertised with themes in mind. Delivery was by pushbike.
The new Ritchies was a genteel store with a dark wooden façade and polished wooden and copper trim. Inside were sections for liquor, grocery and delicatessen. A counter displaying foreign food was salvaged from His Majesty’s Theatre. Cheese of every description was stocked, ranging from Gorgonzola, Camembert and Stilton to Edam and Roquefort. Melville introduced a hire service for large formal functions.
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THE TOMASETTI ERA Tomasetti built new art deco buildings across the road in Bay Street. One would serve as Ritchies' grocery and liquor store, the other was leased to Hanton’s chemist. Upstairs were large apartments where the Tomasetti family lived. The cellar ran the whole length and breadth of the building and was used for bottling
1936
Ritchies wines and storing groceries. Described as a “great business brain”, Melville was an important part of the development of Frankston, but to flourish at these other commitments, he had to bow out of the grocery and liquor trade and lease out his stores to various managers.
IN
1936, a new manager was employed – Mr E Alan Marshall, whose master grocer father Robert was granted the liquor and grocery licence for Ritchies annually for the next seven years.
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EA Marshall was a remote manager and ran the store from a distance. He installed as manager Lance Aldridge, already a senior employee and a familiar face at Ritchies.
As the Depression came to an end, a new optimism emerged. Buying groups were becoming a major part of enabling the independent grocer to compete, with goods bought in bulk and dispersed among the member stores.
Lance Clement Aldridge knew the industry well. He was the son of Frederick Clement Aldridge, a hotelkeeper and stockbroker. Lance married Gladys Grigg, a vibrant personality, and the Aldridges moved to the large apartment above the store in Bay Street, now numbered 555. Staff members were fitted out in a manner befitting the refined store. Each of the gentlemen behind the counter wore a thick starched white coat with a shirt and tie, a triplefold apron and wellshined leather shoes. The starched apron was as stiff as cardboard. The Australasian Grocer had run its own windowdressing competition for many years. Lance Aldridge was well known for his window dressing skills and his window displays at Ritchies were widely admired.
Lance and Gladys Aldridge
“The store with class” Ritchies was open all day Saturday until six. Frankston served the whole of the Peninsula and farmers and their wives would come in from Langwarrin, Red Hill and Pearcedale to do their weekly shopping. The men would attend the local football at the Frankston oval while the women shopped, and in the evenings many would stay in Frankston for dinner. Thursday was a half day and the store was closed Sunday. Oliver's Hill residents regularly shopped at Ritchies, the Number One store, known as “the store with class”. Dame Elisabeth Murdoch was a regular customer.
1939
AUSTRALIA DECLARES WAR WITH GERMANY
1942 In the war years, the Australian way of life changed. Overseas supplies were interrupted and there were severe shortages of goods. In 1942 the government introduced a ration and coupon system. With military bases at Langwarrin, Balcombe and Flinders,
soldiers flooded the town of Frankston. In 1942 Lance Aldridge was called up to the Army. His wife Gladys filled the void, recruiting a staff of reliable women, described by the younger Aldridges as “Mum’s band of women”.
In 1945, Ritchies stores came to another fork in the road when a gentleman by the name of Nelson Morris took on the lease.
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THE
MORRIS ERA 1945
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A young Nelson Morris juggling children
Nelson incorporated the grocery business of his father and kept the Ritchies name intact. He took over the liquor and grocery licence for Ritchies Stores from Manager Marshall. Nelson married in 1937 and family members were always involved in the store, a practice that would carry through Ritchies to the present day.
The full service retail format was modified in the early part of the '50s. In 1953, when the next-door chemist, Mr Hanton, moved out, Nelson renovated and enlarged the premises, joining them with an archway. The smaller section became the grocery area and in the larger, wine and spirits were housed. Within the grocery section Nelson
introduced self service, a format that was rapidly gaining popularity and that had been brought to the area first by Bill Pratt of Pratts Stores (later to become Safeway) in 1950.
Further improvements were made to the store. Nelson fitted refrigerated counters for deep frozen items and was the first to introduce sliced bread to Frankston. He continued to stock special lines like yoghurt. A specialty section at Ritchies housed weird and wonderful exotic products like honey bees in tins, grasshoppers and chocolate covered ants. The Mt Eliza customers were the target group.
the first sliced bread in Frankston 1950
In October 1947, Nelson hired a gentleman who would be a familiar face at Ritchies Stores for 47 years - so much an institution that he was referred to as “Mister Ritchie�. He was tall, silver-haired William Indian, known as Bill to his workmates. Bill served in the Middle East, Borneo, New Guinea and on the Kokoda Trail.
Bill Indian, long term Ritchies employee, on the Kokoda trail
THE MORRIS ERA In 1956, Melbourne hosted the Olympics. That year, Ritchies’ first supermarket opened in Thompson Street on new premises with three modern checkouts. It was a building of the times – modern, plain, highly glassed, with a flattened A-shaped roof jutting over the footpath. Nelson, as managing director, did not see himself as superior to his staff, which now totalled 53. That egalitarian theme would continue at Ritchies down the years.
1956
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Nelson Morris with a fine catch at Lord Howe Island.
Pre-packaged products were not widely available so the staff spent much time packing. Ads for Christmas 1968 promoted Ritchies’ “own packs” to save money on bulk lines of bacon, honey, biscuits and dried fruits. Apart from standard newspaper advertising, Ritchies also advertised in other ways – on betting slips from the TAB, and on programs for the Frankston Theatre Group. Ritchies’ phone order business was substantial.
MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES
In the late 1960s, regulation trading hours were controlled and limited by the State Government. Grocery stores could open from 9.05 am until 5.30 pm Monday to Friday and from 9.05 am until 12.30 pm on Saturdays. The stores were closed all public holidays and there was no late trading. The influential Master Grocers Association did not approve of extended hours.
Ritchies' Thompson Street Food Store.
Nelson introduced a ‘Staff Training Manual’ for his employees and always emphasised service. Each aisle had a manager. Groceries were packed in boxes or brown paper bags and carrying a customer’s groceries to the car was an everyday routine.
And then, in 1971, Barry Cameron walked into Nelson’s office.
Nelson was giving thought to retirement in 1970 but was reluctant to pass Ritchies to one of the chain stores – Pratt’s Safeway, for example, had well and truly entered the market and by 1969 already had a chain of 21 stores.
1969
MAN WALKS ON THE MOON
Ritchies Nepean Highway store in the '50s.
Claire Aldridge and the Ritchies delivery truck.
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THE
CAMERON ERA 1971 FOR
just over two years, Barry Cameron became Nelson Morris’s partner. Barry was a big man, larger than life. Soon after leaving school, he was employed by Woolworths in NSW and at 21 he was managing a Woolworths store. At 23, Barry married Elisabeth Carnegie. They had three children: Frances, Malcolm
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and James. All were to become involved in Ritchies and still are today. Barry took up a position with Myer in Melbourne as supervisor of all Myer Food Halls throughout Australia. Hearing that Nelson Morris was contemplating taking on a partner, Barry visited the Thompson Street store. Nelson, recognising Barry’s
dedication to the continuity of his historic store, sold a half share of the business to Barry, with an option to buy. This option would be exercised a little over two years later. Barry’s arrival marked a turning point. He gave staff the opportunity to be promoted, a philosophy that would continue all the way through to the present day.
Barry was a big man, larger than life
1972 Under Barry’s watch, Ritchies’ picnics and staff outings became legendary, celebrating with a different theme every year. One of his main focuses was on service and his signature theme was red carpet service. Barry also became involved in the wider Frankston community, particularly the business sector.
Pictured: Ritchies Towerhill
Expansion followed and in 1972 a housing project and shopping centre was under way at Towerhill on Golf Links Road. Not without misgivings, Nelson agreed to Ritchies leasing two of the shops. Ritchies Towerhill opened on 1 July 1972, and was immediately successful.
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Mt Eliza’s liquor store would grow to be number one in sales, number one in profit.
THE CAMERON ERA
1983
Barry Cameron in Mt Eliza.
1973
Barry
barrelled on to the next project. In 1973 he leased a small licensed grocery outlet in Mt Eliza from owner/operators, complete with a liquor licence. Mt Eliza’s liquor store would grow to be number one in sales and number one in profit. In the early 1970s Premier Henry Bolte introduced laws to allow grocery trading on Thursdays and Fridays to 9 pm, and on Wednesdays to 8 pm.
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The growth of the chains was alarming in the 1970s, with Coles, Safeway and Franklins increasing market share and the Independents and small chains were fading from the scene. Barry bought the balance of the business in 1974 with partner Arthur Parsonage. The company was incorporated on February 19th, 1974, 104 years after its beginning. Initially 43,000 shares were allocated each valued at a dollar.
AMERICA'S CUP The Australia II, designed by Ben Lexcen and captained by John Bertrand, wrested the America's Cup from the New York Yacht Club for the first time in 132 years.
Barry Cameron and George Demaine.
In 1975, Ritchies’ fifth store opened with a 20-year lease in Beach Street, at Bayside, a newly constructed shopping complex in Frankston. It would become the flagship store for Ritchies. Supermarkets at Mornington and Hastings followed. More ideas were trialled. Barry introduced self-service refrigerated meat. In 1980 Ritchies purchased the freehold of the Nepean Highway store, the unique old building now numbered 457, from Nelson Morris’s family.
1984 In 1983 Barry’s eldest son Mal joined the company on a full time basis as Ritchies accountant. By the early 1980s Barry’s other son James was working full time in the liquor department and both are still working in the business today. Sadly, in January 1984, Barry Cameron passed away.
Ritchies Bayside, a Foodmaster store before 1985.
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THE
CARSON ERA 1984 Peter
Carson was made managing director in Barry’s stead.
From left to right: Peter Carson Liz Cameron Mal Cameron Cathy Carson James Cameron Barry Cameron
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In 1985, Ritchies switched from Foodland (Foodmaster) to SSW. Mornington, Footscray and Thompson Street would now be known as Ritchies SSW, and on the liquor side, Hallmark Cellars.
In the 1980s further stores were opened at Balnarring, Narre Warren, Langwarrin and Wonthaggi, and Towerhill received a makeover. A computer was purchased for the business and front end scanning began.
In 1987 Ritchies helped to form the wholesale collective warehouse, Victorian Grocery Distributors. The iconic Thompson Street store closed.
1993 A company called Pretlock was formed in May 1987 to buy the freehold of the existing Mt Eliza store. The liquor licence at Mt Eliza was tied to the premises, so Ritchies bought the freehold, thus owning and controlling the liquor licence. Ritchies was then able to move the Mt Eliza supermarket to improved premises.
A recession set in across Australia, bringing three years of successive losses for Ritchies Stores. The wider industry suffered. SSW reduced its rebate to Ritchies by 50% due to its losses. In 1991 SSW merged with VGD.
This was the point at which the ownership of the company widened as the Cameron family bought out the Parsonage interest and retained the majority holding. In 1994, Peter Carson retired.
Following the economic recession and looking for a point of difference from the chains, in 1993 Ritchies introduced the Community Benefit Program, a loyalty program where clubs, schools and charities could be the recipients of donations based on the number of shoppers who nominated them. No other supermarket chain had embarked on such a scheme. The card was tentatively trialled and soon more than $100,000 had been donated to the
community. It boosted staff morale and motivated customers. By 1998, the two million dollar mark was reached. David Welsh, a solicitor for the Cameron family since 1972, negotiated the purchase of Ritchies from Nelson Morris. David was involved with the incorporation of Ritchies in February 1974, and became company secretary. He took up the position of director of Ritchies in 1988 and
later became chairman of the Ritchies board when Elisabeth Cameron Boyle stood down from the role. David oversaw much of Ritchies' growth through the late '90s and early 2000s, covering a dual role as Ritchies' chairman and also its company solicitor. David received an AM for his community work. He died in January 2014.
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Ritchies Yarra Glenn launch.
THE
HARRISON ERA 1994 With legislation introduced allowing 24 hours trading, in 1996 Sunday trading began across Victoria. In 1998, Ritchies opened a licensed supermarket at Dandenong – the most up-to-date store ever opened by the company.
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Opening week set an all-time record for independent retailing in Australia. It was a blueprint for future Ritchies upgrades and new store fit-outs until the advent of Ritchies Fine Food and Wine stores some 18 years later.
In 1998, the IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) banner was launched in Victoria, and independent banners were consolidated into one brand. All Ritchies supermarkets were resigned with the IGA logo.
In 2001 Ritchies began to expand beyond its traditional marketplace with the purchase of IGA supermarkets in Gippsland, Western Districts, in northern Victoria and in the Goulburn Valley.
Ritchies proudly opened its first interstate store on 6 December 2004. More would follow.
2009 In 2009 Ritchies won the IGA National Community Chest Award, two Victoria Day Awards and the BRW ANZ Private Business Community Award. Fred Harrison accepts a Victoria Day Award for Public and Community Service.
By 30 June 2006, Ritchies’ running total was 33 supermarkets and 34 liquor licences in Victoria; and in NSW, 11 supermarkets and four liquor licences. In 2007, Ritchies opened the company’s first-ever Queensland store.
Ritchies Paynesville.
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Ritchies Fine Food and Wine In 2013, Ritchies was offered the opportunity to expand the supermarket in the Mt Eliza Village Shopping Centre as the property was in receivership. Ritchies was not in a position to acquire the shopping centre but a group of willing investors got together to look at buying the centre and negotiated with Ritchies to develop a larger, high quality supermarket and enter into a long term lease. LMP Project Pty Ltd was born and acquired the centre. Ritchies designed a supermarket of close to 2,000sqm and a separate liquor store of around 250sqm. The team then set about designing and developing a higher quality premises. Ritchies wanted the supermarket to champion fresh
produce and aim to achieve a high percentage of fresh sales each week.
Fresh food sales have performed very successfully for Ritchies over the journey.
Bakery was recognised as a key fresh department and was built front and centre of the entrance to the store. A huge deli was designed to include a specialty cut and wrap cheese counter and Lenards Chicken, produce and meat were also incorporated into the fresh offer, with the remainder of the store ranged as grocery.
Rather than brand the store as a Ritchies SUPA IGA, the alternative was a name that would reflect this new concept store, so Mt Eliza was branded and launched as 'Ritchies Fine Food and Wine Merchants' with a new logo designed accordingly.
The focus was on ranging high quality unique gourmet products to provide a point of difference to competitors. The first Healthy Living department was born, whereby focus was on retailing specialty healthy food. Products had to achieve a certain criteria to be ranged within stores.
Following the success of Mt Eliza, Dromana was opened as a Fine Food and Wine store and became even more successful. Mt Eliza has won the IGA Victoria Store of the Year an unprecedented five times and has also claimed the Australian IGA Store of the Year once. The Ritchies Fine Food and Wine concept came at a critical time for
Ritchies Stores. The sales and profitability were down, and unable to differentiate the offer from that of the chains. This concept proved popular and sales and profitability increased markedly The Ritchies Fine Food and Wine concept has now become the model for store upgrades, refurbishments and greenfield sites and there is no doubt that Mt Eliza and Dromana influenced this decision. Not every future store will be branded as such, but this has allowed for the development of a number of successful Fine Food and Wine stores. Ritchies has worked hard to develop a unique range of lines including freshly popped corn, freshly squeezed juice, nut butters and mussel tanks, which all add to the image of being a fresh food specialist.
Dromana
Fishers
This was a very successful store in its own right but after its success at Mt Eliza, Ritchies decided there was an opportunity to expand the supermarket and convert it to a Fine Food and Wine store. Dromana attracts an influx of holiday makers and weekenders and the construction of the Peninsula Link meant roads in and out of Dromana were much improved, with a reduced travelling time from Melbourne of about 20 minutes. This all pointed to the success of a modernised expanded fresher store.
In 2016, the Managing Director of the Fishers group of stores in the Mildura region, approached Ritchies CEO Fred Harrison to indicate he wanted to move to Melbourne and it would not be feasible to manage and operate the Fishers supermarkets whilst separated geographically. It was time for Alan to sell the business. Alan had promised long ago that Ritchies would be given the first opportunity to purchase if he sold and true to his word, this offer was formalised. To add 13 Fishers supermarkets was a huge undertaking and provided a real challenge for the Ritchies team.
This store has provided great inspiration to all at Ritchies.
The acquisition of Fishers supermarkets meant that Ritchies now held a total coverage of stores in Victoria. Whilst some locations would remain far from a Ritchies store, they now covered the north, south, east and west of the State. For the first time in the history of acquiring stores, Ritchies elected not to change the name of the Fishers business to Ritchies. It was felt that Fishers' 105-year-old heritage meant customers were very comfortable with the Fishers brand.
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2010
2011
2012
• Yarra Glen named Victorian SUPA IGA Store of the Year.
• Ritchies set a limit of 3kg of bananas per customer after QLD cyclones devastate crops.
• Acquired Evans Head store in NSW from an independent retailer.
THE L AST 10 YEARS A SNAPSHOT
• Ritchies developed the first ever greenfield site at Kyogle in QLD and opened a new licensed supermarket and specialty tenancies. • Ritchies acquired the former SPAR store at Boonah in QLD. • For the first time in history, two new stores opened on the same day − a greenfield store at Paynesville on the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria and a supermarket and liquor store in the picturesque coastal town of Nambucca Heads, NSW. • MYERone was introduced to the Ritchies Loyalty offer • Yarra Glen named the National Retailer of the Year for Customer Service.
• Opened a licensed Victorian greenfield site in Bairnsdale on 28th August. • Opened a supermarket and liquor store in Taree. • Recognised for an Industry accolade with the Carrum Downs supermarket winning the “Victorian SUPA IGA Retailer of the Year” – a credit to all concerned. • Operations Group appointed in each State, with the respective State Managers acting as Chairman, along with a National Operations group comprised of senior members of the operation groups.
• Ritchies signed to purchase nine Franklins stores from Metcash. Bateau Bay, the first ex-Franklins store was acquired on 16th July and Singleton Plaza, the ninth and final ex-Franklins store transitioned to a Ritchies store in mid-November. The Franklins stores provided Ritchies the opportunity to gain a presence in the biggest retail market in Australia. Ritchies reputation is a strong independent retailer who does things ‘how the locals like it’. Now bringing this experience and expertise to nine new areas in the NSW market, Ritchies was confident of turning the nine Franklins stores around quickly as SUPA IGA and IGA stores, thereby providing the locals with packaged grocery and fresh products at very competitive prices. • Ritchies acquired Elermore Vale and Harrington Waters stores.
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2013
2014
• The Community Benefit program donations for the financial year were just short of $2M.
• The highlight of the year was the refurbishment and subsequent relaunch of Mt Eliza
• Ritchies introduced the first Self Check Outs (SCO’s) at the Mt Eliza store.
This store was the first of the Ritchies Fine Food and Wine concept stores with a focus on all fresh departments.
• Ritchies Kyogle was awarded the title of “SUPA IGA Liquor Retailer of the Year.”
Specialty sections such as cut and wrap cheese, seafood, free range chicken, aged meat, game meats. More direct lines were stocked with an emphasis on high gourmet. Jarrod Swaine and Richard Hobbs travelled Australia, met with suppliers and industry experts to come up with the design. Ritchies executives put an incredible amount of planning into the layout, design and ranging of the supermarket, to say the least. This was no ordinary Ritchies supermarket and the range was hand picked, with many of the senior executives travelling Australia to establish the range and maximize the potential sales of fresh food.
• To offer yet another point of difference to customers, a Healthy Living category was introduced. Utilising the services of a qualified naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist, in conjunction with Ritchies buying team, this has been forged on an outstanding range of unique Healthy Living products. Customers are far more knowledgeable regarding nutrition and ingredients and were demanding organic whole foods as well as quality gluten free and vegan options. Healthy Living is like a specialty store within the Ritchies Stores.
• Ritchies Masters of Meat (MoM) was introduced, followed by a value-add section, "All Natural Ingredients", and other marketing initiatives. • Following the success of the Mt Eliza store, Ritchies purchased the Sorrento store to open as a Ritchies Fine Food Store. Sorrento has been a success from our first day of trade
• Mt Eliza provided the confidence to open further Ritchies Fine Food and Wine Stores. The future lies in more fresh food, gourmet lines, pre-prepared meals, Healthy Living (organic wholefoods, quality gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options).
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2015
2016
• Ritchies agreed to expand its Dromana supermarket by a further 600 sqm. A 250sqm meat room was added giving us the convenience of cutting and packing meat as required
• Ritchies Beechworth store was destroyed in a deliberately lit fire. As the only supermarket in town, this would have a huge impact on the community. Ritchies needed to launch a pop up store until the store could be rebuilt. Beechworth is a historic town with heritage overlays and the company was struggling to find a suitable site until a local business offered use of its premises. True community spirit.
• Ritchies agreed to purchase its next greenfield site - a parcel of land in Maclean on which to build a 2,250 sqm licenced supermarket. • Ritchies first sushi outlet opened at Mt Eliza, with stunning success. This would lead to a national rollout of this category in select stores. • Ritchies acquired a SUPA IGA licenced supermarket in Bright, Victoria. • Devastating storms hit the Central Coast of NSW in late April and closed five Ritchies stores for four days. • Mt Eliza won the “Victorian IGA Retailer of the Year” award and followed up in July by winning the “National IGA Retailer of the Year” award. • Ritchies Berowra store was extensively damaged in a fire. With minimal tenure on the lease, Ritchies elected not to renew.
• Prior to the Beechworth and Berowra fires, the last Ritchies fire was in 1863 so to have two stores burn down within 18 months was unforeseen. • The signing of contracts to purchase the 13 Fishers supermarkets was a highlight of the year. Ritchies acquired one Fishers store in June and the remaining 12 stores in the July to September period. This would provide a great opportunity for the company in the longer term. • On Monday 20th June, Ritchies acquired Miners Rest, the first of our Fishers stores. it provided an opportunity to test our changeover strategies before consecutive rollouts began in early July. • The new Dromana store opened in November 2016. This refurbishment saw this store increase in size from 2700sqm to 3500sqm, with a major expansion in the fresh offer and an emphasis on gourmet lines throughout. • The Mt Waverly store was completely transformed and relaunched. • The Mt Eliza store won the IGA Victorian Retailer of Year for the second consecutive year.
2017 • The Boonah store officially launched on Wednesday 8th June 2016. • In July 2016, Fred Harrison was inducted into the IGA Hall of Fame. Named after the Chairman of IGA Inc., this honour recognises leadership and outstanding achievements and contribution to the Australian independent retail grocery industry.
• Mt Eliza went into the record books as the only store to win three consecutive State IGA Store of the Year awards and Mt Waverley wins SUPA IGA VIC Store of the Year - the first time one company has won both the IGA and the SUPA IGA awards in a single year. • Ritchies opened the Amberley Park store in Narre Warren South. • For the first time in the company’s history Ritchies achieved a billion dollars in sales in a single year.
2018
2019
• Dromana won VIC Retailer of the Year (ROTY) and National IGA ROTY and was ultimately named the IGA International ROTY in San Diego to become the best IGA store in the world. These awards take into account community contribution, customer service, brand values and shopper experience as well as sales, profits and department excellence.
• Following a complete rebuild, Ritchies officially opened New Lambton. This was the first NSW store to be branded as Ritchies Fine Food and Wine and a forerunner to a number of other similarly branded Ritchies stores, including Maclean and Spit Junction.
• Ritchies Cobram was awarded the Victorian IGA Community Award as the business demonstrating the most outstanding community involvement and engagement. • Mt Eliza was named VIC IGA Retailer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. • The Boonah store was announced as the QNN SUPA IGA Retailer of the Year. • Ritchies opened the newly built Beechworth store. The appropriate theme of the launch function was “Rising from the Ashes”. • The Rowville store was redeveloped as a Ritchies Fine Food and Wine store.
• Ritchies Mt Martha opened on Monday 24th June − a key addition to the strong store portfolio on the Mornington Peninsula. • Ritchies Numurkah opened which fits into the Ritchies network very well being close to Cobram, Yarrawonga, Tatura and Kyabram stores.
2020 • Ritchies was honoured to receive the Salvation Army's "Others Award", made to an individual or organisation that exemplifies the spirit of service to others. This award is given only to those who have exhibited extraordinary service benefiting The Salvation Army and/or community. No more than one “Others” award is allowed to be recognised in a community in a given year. • Boonah won QNN ROTY again having previously won this title in 2007. Boonah went on to win the National and International award.
• Ritchies celebrates 150 year anniversary. • Ritchies reaches the 50 million dollar milestone through the Community Benefit Program and re-launches the Ritchies Loyalty program. • Ritchies launch “the friendliest team in the supermarket and liquor industry” objective, to be the retailer who best delivers this promise to our customers. • Open new Ritchies Fine Food and Wine store at the historic site of Pentridge in Coburg, Victoria.
• After much anticipation, Maclean supermarket was the first greenfield launch for eight years. It took 7 years to get the store designed and built, but this delay allowed for a better designed and more functional supermarket to be built. • On Thursday 18th July, the Somerville store celebrated 40 years of trade. • Ritchies Mt Eliza store again received the VIC IGA Retailer of the Year award for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year at the IGA Expo.
Ritchies Directors: Frederick A Harrison, Malcolm A Cameron, Edwin M. Jankelowitz, James W Cameron, Brad Soller, Scott A Marshall Special thanks to Jenny Mountstephen's A Trolley Load of History
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Our biggest strength is our people. The number of team members Ritchies has employed over the years is in the order of tens of thousands and Ritchies wishes to thank them all for their loyal service. Ritchies knows its teams will continue to deliver the outstanding and friendly service for which Ritchies has become famous. Ritchies also wishes to thank its Customers, Suppliers, Board Members and Shareholders for their continued support. Ritchies simply could not operate without these partnerships. Ritchies will continue to modernise, fine-tune and grow its network into the next decade and beyond.
Ritchies looks forward to the next 150 years!
