G.U.S. WHOLESALERS ACT AS MAIN FORCE FOR THE NEW MALL

Press, 4 October 1977, Page 18

G.U.S. WHOLESALERS ACT AS MAIN FORCE FOR THE NEW MALL

The Hornby-based company G.U.S. Wholesalers, Ltd, has been the main force behind the new Hornby Mall. Grocers United Stores, Ltd, is a 50-year-old company which has grown into a business which last

year had a turnover of SS2M and is continuing to grow strongly. G.U.S. Wholesalers, Ltd, grew from a band of 12 grocers who, in 1928, formed a co-operative buying group, United Stores Syndicate, so they could get the benefits of bulk buying by selling at lower prices.

Since then the organisation has grown, and diversified its activities, until it is now the fastest growing food wholesaling group in the South Island with its members dominating the food retailing scene through the LG.A. and Super Value retail outlets.

The organisation has changed as it has grown. In 1935 it was taken over by a private company called Grocers United Stores, Limited with the shares being held by four trustees on behalf of all members of the syndicate.

In 1953, it was converted to a public company and only members were able to buy shares in proportion to the level of their buying from the company — ensuring the group stayed a co-oper-ative buying group. In 1975 the name was changed to the present one.

During the group's entire existence the purpose has been to buy goods on the best possible terms and sell them to members at the lowest possible price so that they, in turn, can sell goods at a lower price to the public.

It now has members from Timaru to Blenheim

and Nelson and is already looking at the possibility of developments in Auckland and as far away as Australia. Head office is in Chappie Place, Hornby, and branch offices are in Nelson, Marlborough, South Canterbury, Ashburton and the West Coast.

The original G.U.S. Wholesalers has also spawned several subsidary companies. G.U.S. Properties is now one of the leading property developers in the South Island. In the last 18 months, this company commenced building or completed shopping centres in Ashburton, Timaru, Blenheim and of course, Hornby, built a new supermarket in Westport, and expanded the Merivale and Lincoln Road supermarkets in Christchurch. Three new warehouses were built for G.U.S. Wholesalers in Timaru and Hornby and New Brighton.

G.U.S. Properties now has a hand in ten South Island shopping centres or shopping mails and the Hornby Mall supermarket is the 27th Super value supermarket in the chain. As well as the property division the company has three other subsidiaries. G.U.S. Print has grown from a small printing establishment designed to service members and meet company needs to a major printing house — the second largest in the South Island. G.U.S. Print attracts work from all over the country and is building a reputation for quality and efficiency with the most up to date printing machinery available. Recent orders from Australia for G.U.S. Print may prove that the company is on the threshold of a substantial export market. Windsor Gate Confections, Limited, is another subsidiary, pre-

viously known as Macks Confections, Limited. During 1976 this company underwent a complete rebuilding and re-equipping programme until it is now one of the most modern confectionary manufacturing units in New Zea land. Confirmed orders from Australia have also been gained by this companv and there is opportunitv for further export of its confectionary products.

Another subsidiarv, Supermarket Holdings. Ltd, owns and operates five Super Value supermarkets. A substantial profit was made by this firm last year and during the next year a large new supermarket will be built by it to replace the existing Sydenham . Super Value supermarket. Improvements have also been made by this company to the Northlands Super Value supermarket.