A History of Community Service

In 1944 the local shopping community rallied to purchase Sheards Department Store in Nuriootpa, South Australia. One of Australia's most successful Retail Co-operatives was born with an initial issue of 7500 one pound shares held in trust by the first Board of Directors. Expansion was undertaken over the years with the opening of Barossa's first Self Serve Foodland Supermarket in 1965. Likewise the hardware division was rebuilt and expanded in 1978. The furniture division was opened in 1987 to cater for the expanding residential development. Membership in the Co-operative rapidly grew to in excess of 12,000 members.

Major expansion and redevelopment became very evident as the Co-operative fought to fulfill the community's growing needs. In 1994 the Co-operative borrowed extensively to purchase a major parcel of commercial land to the south of the town. This land included a large "Mitre 10" hardware store which gave opportunity to merge and relocate the Co-operative's existing hardware division to the new site. Plans were underway to develop the Co-operative's own shopping centre.

In November 1998 the Co-operative opened "The Barossa Regional Shopping Centre" housing a state of the art 4000m2 IGA Foodland Supermarket and potential for 8 specialty shops. This bold move released 2000m2 of prime floor space in the main street department store site when the supermarket relocated to the new shopping centre.

The "Betta" electrical division opened in March 1999 and major refurbishment of the department store was completed in mid 1999.

The Co-operative is continually developing its retail operation to consolidate its rapid sales growth. The Co-operative's buying and marketing functions have been strengthened with membership to the following buying groups:- Foodland, Betta Electrical, Mitre 10, Homemakers, Toyworld, Sportspower and Frontline.

Employing 300 staff, the Co-operative continues to offer state of the art facilities, an emphasis on quality service, and a rebate to Members (subject to profits) at the end of each trading year.