MORRIS ERA

1945

THE MORRIS ERA

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.

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.

the first sliced bread in Frankston

1950

Bill Indian, long term Ritchies employee, on the Kokoda trail

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. 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 1956

Ritchies' Thompson Street Food Store.

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. 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.

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.

And then, in 1971, Barry Cameron walked into Nelson’s office.

1969

MAN WALKS ON THE MOON

Claire Aldridge and the Ritchies delivery truck.