SA Footy

Whether or not at any time they were owned by the same company, there were heaps of different supermarket chains in the early 90s. In addition to Coles, Woolworths, Foodland and Bi-lo, we had stores like Franklins, Cheap Foods and Jewel Food Barn. I was wondering just how many chains were there, and their locations. As well as what they are now.

For example, I recall the Jewel Food Barn at Welland - which a few shops now occupy it.
There was a Bi-Lo on Findon Road, I think the Salvation Army is there (or was)
The Salvation Army store opposite the Arndale cinema was a Coles
And then probably my earliest memories of a supermarket was the Super K Mart at Port Adelaide. It had 30 checkouts and had red shelves, and the food section is laid out in similar fashion to the Coles there now.

tom the cheap


up north there was/is 'jack the slasher'

There's a 4-Square store around the corner,
and there's a Serv-Wel store around the corner.
There's a (blah blah blah) around the corner,
Yes there's a friend, near you.

Cash Convertors/Cheese Cake Shop/Bristol @ Torrensville used to be Woolworths

Ian wrote:Cash Convertors/Cheese Cake Shop/Bristol @ Torrensville used to be Woolworths

when, the 60's?

Sort of on topic I think if I can stretch the "chains" comment.

We had Lloyds hardware shop out on Nth East Rd Windsor Gardens

We used to shop at Half Case, at one stage they were a "bulk" store but then turned more mainstream towards the end, Foodland, Franklins or Bi-Lo seemed to take over most of their stores, we shopped at the South Plympton one (or is that Ascot Park? its right on the border I think) and its now a Foodland.

Wedgie wrote:We used to shop at Half Case, at one stage they were a "bulk" store but then turned more mainstream towards the end, Foodland, Franklins or Bi-Lo seemed to take over most of their stores, we shopped at the South Plympton one (or is that Ascot Park? its right on the border I think) and its now a Foodland.

I remember as a kid, I lived on Kangaroo Island.
Every time we came over from the Island to the mainland,
We'd bring a trailer, go to half case and fill it up with 6 of everything

Not sure where the location was though

gadj1976 wrote:Sort of on topic I think if I can stretch the "chains" comment.
We had Lloyds hardware shop out on Nth East Rd Windsor Gardens

Lloyds were a chain. I used to go to the one at Kent Town. Bunnings bought them.

Just thought of another one, Arrows! (or something similar)
As Big W has Woolies, Target used to have Arrows next to them for a while at the Castle Plaza.

Pseudo wrote:There's a 4-Square store around the corner,
and there's a Serv-Wel store around the corner.
There's a (blah blah blah) around the corner,
Yes there's a friend, near you.

I can't get that bloody song out of my head now Pseudo, thanks a lot!
Kids thought I was bloody crazy when I broke out into a rendition of it too!

My kids have made me write down the Arnotts Yo Yo song so they could learn how to sing it after I burst out in song one day.

Cows give milk and milk becomes butter
and their both in.......

Booney wrote:My kids have made me write down the Arnotts Yo Yo song so they could learn how to sing it after I burst out in song one day.

Cows give milk and milk becomes butter
and their both in.......

ha ha, been there done that.

At Henley South (cnr Henley Beach Road and East Tce) growing up, there was a Big Heart store. Taken over later by Foodland (which had Andy Capp as part of its advertising for a time..."Wherrrre do ya get it?", whereas it started as a Coles. Tom The Cheap was known simply as Tom's later on.

The Woolworths at Torrensville closed around 1988, IIRC. Used to go there as a kid regularly to stock up on Hubba Bubba Gum

Lloyds were usually sponsors of SANFL coverage on radio in the 70's and 80's.

we used to have a "zig zags" toy store, apparently that was a chain. as well as a darrel lee's shop down the foreshore.

damn how i miss their icecream.

Used to be a Sam's at Seacliff now a smaller IGA and chemist.

the "big crow" at pasadena in the 90's, know its just a plain foodland

I have been in the Trade for far too many years

Set up is Chain Stores and Independent stores
Chain Stores
Coles
Bilo mostly converted to Coles or sold off. still a few in the Eastern States but owned by Coles
Woolworths..Safeway in Victoria
Aldi in Eastern States

At varying stages Coles and Woolies had price cutter stores
Coles had Price Point in the 70s and 80s
Woolworths had Fabulous

Bilo was an Independent Chain and was sold to Coles in the 70s or early eighties

Independent Chains that are still trading or have been around

Foodland Still South Aussies and still trading very very well


Tom the Cheap
Eudunda Farners also spent some time called United, but now badged IGA or Foodland
Four Square
Big Heart
Servwell
Foodtown
Welcome Mart
Half case Warehouses
Timesavers
Cash and Carry
Target Supermarkets which became Arrow supermarkets..Target was the first group to run below cost promotions along with Tom the Cheap
Jack the Ripper in Port Augusta
Rainbow stores in NT
The Big Crow at Pasadena and Alice Springs
The Boomerang store at Norwood
CCSP or something like that had a few stores
There was also a chaindown South At marion, Denham rd and at Darlington that I forget

Most of these stores are now Branded IGA which is the National Independent Chain and get their stock from the Metcash warehouse at Kidman Park, which has had so many names eg Davids, IGC, Metcash, IGA

They are all pretty much Independently owned, hence the name Independents.
There are a few Multiple Store Ownwers such as Drakes, Romeos and Chapleys and their stores trade either as Foodland or IGA.

The Independents in SA are very strong compared to the Eastern States and we are lucky to have both Foodalnd and IGA both doing well.

Triple 7

Wedgie wrote:Just thought of another one, Arrows! (or something similar)
As Big W has Woolies, Target used to have Arrows next to them for a while at the Castle Plaza.

Arrow I think it was just called. I know there was one at Fulham Gardens (which is now Foodland and also next to Target)
Opposite that store was a Bi-lo across Valetta Road; I don't know what's there now though
Bunnings at Allenby Gardens was a Lloyds store
Time Savers on Grange Road is now a small Foodland and a newsagent

Yes, Triple 777 was a sponsor of Sturt around 1993-95.