Master Grocers Association of Victoria (MGAV) began life in 1898 as the "Grocer's and Traveller's" club with an annual subscription of 5 shillings.
MGAV began with 2 specific objectives in mind:
- To unite members of the Victoria Retail Grocery Trade for protection, defense and mutual benefit.
- To provide musical and other entertainments and to give members an opportunity of cultivating a spirit of good will and friendly feeling towards each other.
The association was formed by retailers for retailers but with a close alliance to supplier companies and their representatives (then called travelers). In the early days there were no warehouses, as all product was supplied directly to stores, hence the need for a close working relationship with the trade.
In addition to working closely together for the benefit of their businesses, it is obvious "the trade" enjoyed themselves socially as can be seen from the many photographs taken in the 1930's of grocers picnics held in such places as Queenscliff and Sorrento etc.. (if you are in the Malvern area, please feel free to visit the office where you can see hundreds of photographs and other pieces of memorabilia, some dating back to the turn of the 20th century).
These social gatherings eventually became the means for our industry, over the years, to raise funds for community based organisations such as the Reach Foundation (1997 to 2009) which provides vital youth support services around Australia. This tradition continues today through our involvement with the MGA Golf day in March each year, the GALA Ball and other industry functions.
In over 100 years the aims of the association have not changed. Your board of directors are independent grocery and liquor supermarket retailers representing various banners.
The management team and staff have many years of wide ranging experience in this industry.
The MGAV fostered the development of warehousing and launched the first supermarket banner groups way back in the 50's and 60's, the first such organisation with two supermarket banner groups.
Over the years we have moved away from warehousing and banner group management but now have the very important roll of advisor and support service to our members on many aspects of this wonderful vibrant industry. We also act as lobbyists to the government on important issues and negotiate with trade unions on awards and conditions.
Both the original objectives are relevant today, particularly, the 2nd objective; "to give members an opportunity of cultivating a spirit of goodwill and friendly feelings toward each other".
Achieving this will be one of many important aims of the association as we steadily grow from a south eastern Australian industry body into as National Grocery and Liquor Supermarket Industry Employer Association.
The year 2005 was a defining year for the Master Grocers Association of Victoria. Over the many years, independent supermarket retailers from around Australia have requested MGA extend its well known and highly credible industry specific business advisory and support service to a national level. Listening to these requests and in keeping with the tradition of "safeguarding Independent supermarket" owners businesses, the MGAV board decided to invest into the future by setting upon planning and implementing a path of national expansion incorporating all states in Australia.
To coincide with this expansion, the board in 2006, approved a name change from "Master Grocers Association of Victoria" to "Master Grocers Australia."
Retailers from Western Australia, New South Wales, ACT, Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland have been welcomed as new members of the MGA effective from mid 2007, lifting the total MGA independent supermarket membership to over 1200 members for the first time in its history!
Immaterially of which warehouse retailers draw from or which banner or brand they belong to, there is one thing they all have in common and that is, "They are Independent Grocery and Liquor Supermarket Retailers."
Together we can make a difference by being interdependent, by helping and supporting each other, by exchanging good ideas and information. We endeavor to communicate this though MGA's Independent Retailer magazine, MGA's website, bulletins and newsletters, training courses, visits to your regional meetings and at store level.
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Master Grocers Association of Victoria (MGAV) began life in 1898 as the "Grocer's and Traveller's" club with an annual subscription of 5 shillings.
MGAV began with 2 specific objectives in mind:
The association was formed by retailers for retailers but with a close alliance to supplier companies and their representatives (then called travelers). In the early days there were no warehouses, as all product was supplied directly to stores, hence the need for a close working relationship with the trade.
In addition to working closely together for the benefit of their businesses, it is obvious "the trade" enjoyed themselves socially as can be seen from the many photographs taken in the 1930's of grocers picnics held in such places as Queenscliff and Sorrento etc.. (if you are in the Malvern area, please feel free to visit the office where you can see hundreds of photographs and other pieces of memorabilia, some dating back to the turn of the 20th century).
These social gatherings eventually became the means for our industry, over the years, to raise funds for community based organisations such as the Reach Foundation (1997 to 2009) which provides vital youth support services around Australia. This tradition continues today through our involvement with the MGA Golf day in March each year, the GALA Ball and other industry functions.
In over 100 years the aims of the association have not changed. Your board of directors are independent grocery and liquor supermarket retailers representing various banners.
The management team and staff have many years of wide ranging experience in this industry.
The MGAV fostered the development of warehousing and launched the first supermarket banner groups way back in the 50's and 60's, the first such organisation with two supermarket banner groups.
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Over the years we have moved away from warehousing and banner group management but now have the very important roll of advisor and support service to our members on many aspects of this wonderful vibrant industry. We also act as lobbyists to the government on important issues and negotiate with trade unions on awards and conditions.
Both the original objectives are relevant today, particularly, the 2nd objective; "to give members an opportunity of cultivating a spirit of goodwill and friendly feelings toward each other".
Achieving this will be one of many important aims of the association as we steadily grow from a south eastern Australian industry body into as National Grocery and Liquor Supermarket Industry Employer Association.
The year 2005 was a defining year for the Master Grocers Association of Victoria. Over the many years, independent supermarket retailers from around Australia have requested MGA extend its well known and highly credible industry specific business advisory and support service to a national level. Listening to these requests and in keeping with the tradition of "safeguarding Independent supermarket" owners businesses, the MGAV board decided to invest into the future by setting upon planning and implementing a path of national expansion incorporating all states in Australia.
To coincide with this expansion, the board in 2006, approved a name change from "Master Grocers Association of Victoria" to "Master Grocers Australia."
Retailers from Western Australia, New South Wales, ACT, Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland have been welcomed as new members of the MGA effective from mid 2007, lifting the total MGA independent supermarket membership to over 1200 members for the first time in its history!
Immaterially of which warehouse retailers draw from or which banner or brand they belong to, there is one thing they all have in common and that is, "They are Independent Grocery and Liquor Supermarket Retailers."
Together we can make a difference by being interdependent, by helping and supporting each other, by exchanging good ideas and information. We endeavor to communicate this though MGA's Independent Retailer magazine, MGA's website, bulletins and newsletters, training courses, visits to your regional meetings and at store level.
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