Supermarkets in Australia

Australia has one of the most concentrated grocery markets in the world. Woolworths and Wesfarmers (owner of Coles) account for almost 80% of supermarket sales, 60% of alcohol retail, 50% of petrol retail and 40% of all retail in Australia.

Metcash, who supply IGA Supermarkets, accounts for 16% of supermarket sales. Metcash distributes primarily to independently owned stores. They supply IGA, Foodland, and Foodworks, 7-Eleven, Lucky 7, BP and several liquor retail outlets.

From its origins in 1920 as a family owned corner store, Metcash has evolved, uniting Australia’s independent grocers and diversifying its portfolio of businesses to become an ASX Top 100 Company. Headquartered in Sydney, its diverse business operations range from servicing its customers in supermarket and convenience businesses through to hardware; and automotive parts.

Metcash’s customers are, predominantly, independently owned grocery and liquor stores, but also include hardware and automotive part stores, which operate under their portfolio of brands including: IGA, MITRE 10, Cellarbrations and Autobarn.

Metcash champions the interests of the independent grocery, liquor, hardware and automotive parts sectors through its core competencies of buying, merchandising, marketing, brand building, distribution logistics and warehousing.

Metcash has 3 internal divisions, often referred to as business pillars, each operating in a distinct wholesaling industry segment:

SPAR Australia Limited is becoming another Major Player in Australia, which is an unlisted public company with an elected Board of Directors. The Principal shareholders in the Company are Independent Retail store owners. The SPAR Board comprises three non-executive Directors.

SPAR Australia Limited was established in December 2002, then under the name Australian Retail Logistix Limited (ARLL).  The Company was set up by independent retailers operating under United Star Supermarkets Limited (USSL) to acquire and operate the former Woolworths owned AIW distribution business in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane.

SPAR Australia Limited is the Licensor holder for SPAR (supermarkets) in the Australian region.

For further details in owning and operating your own Supermarket, talk to the Team at Benchmark Supermarket brokers.

The Team who have owned and operated independent supermarkets in Australia, and truly understand the independent sector of RETAIL Supermarkets.  Today, this team has over 57 supermarkets for sale across four states and over eight businesses under contract.