Australian supermarket chain Drakes celebrated its golden anniversary, using the milestone to reflect on the company's past and the industry's future.
Roger Drake purchased the first supermarket in 1974 and expanded the family-owned brand to 60 locations in South Australia and Queensland. Despite growing exponentially, the company has maintained the same core brand values.
"We want to be a supermarket known for choice. Choose from your favourite brands and products and how you spend your money," said John-Paul Drake, director at Drakes.
Roger (left) and John-Paul (right) Drake
"In a world where we're being increasingly told what to buy and where to buy it, we want our customers to know that they guide us and what they want. We want to do business without the ego because the ego can only limit what we can achieve."
Drakes held a gala dinner to celebrate 50 years of history, which was attended by over 900 valued suppliers, staff, and guests.
The event sparked feelings of nostalgia as Roger and John Paul Drake looked back on the company's history and commemorated all those involved in the supermarket's growth.
"As we venture into the next 50 years, we will do so thanks to our suppliers, dedicated staff and valued customers," said Roger Drake, managing director of Drakes.
When asked what key moments were critical in the development of Drakes over the last five decades, Roger and John-Paul highlighted several.
"One of the biggest highlights for the Drakes business has to be when we were granted self-insurance for Workcover, which was a major accomplishment for the group," said Roger.
"We're probably the only other retailer, apart from the two majors, that is self-ensured for Workcover."
John-Paul stated that opening the distribution centre in South Australia was one of the pivotal moments within Drakes history. Its importance in becoming independent was immense as it helped the team take control of the business and stray away from the marketing banners Drakes had been associated with for so long.
Regarding the future of the grocery store industry, Roger and John-Paul identified several areas that have experienced significant growth. Meal replacements, snacking, health and frozen meals were all highlighted as critical industries for innovation.
Alongside this, John-Paul identified new product developments as continuous drivers of the industry, with suppliers continuously investing to remain on the cutting edge of the competition.
Drakes has remained at the forefront of the industry in terms of sustainability. The company was the first Australian supermarket to introduce compostable cucumber wrapping.
While advancements have been made, Drakes has been honest about how they are still far from replacing all packaging with sustainable alternatives.
"The cost is significantly higher than other packaging types, and we're not prepared to pass this on to our customers," said John-Paul.
Despite this, they have made significant strides towards offering other supermarket solutions that contribute to efficient and sustainable practices.
"We've got strong relationships with our growers and through our Save Food Fight WQaste brand, and we've been able to sell over 500,000 kilogrammes of imperfect produce back into our stores," said John-Paul.
In 2023, Drakes launched Eco Avocado, a project with Costa Farms focused on regenerative farming practices and sustainability initiatives. Since then, Eco Avocado has been certified climate-active and carbon-neutral and has gained notoriety for its eco-friendly soil enrichment and waste processes.
"What may seem like small changes can reduce our environmental burden," said John-Paul.
"We are switching our 7,000 traditional cardboard cartons weekly for reusable crates in our fresh area. Our recyclable meat trays, biodegradable produce bags, and recyclable checkout bags are just a few more steps we're taking to ensure that we leave behind a healthier planet for generations to come."
Following the 50-year celebration, Drakes has set its sights on increasing its footprint through expansions, refits, acquisitions and potential greenfield sites. Drakes is also undertaking a significant upgrade of its meat production centre at Beverley.
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