BALAKLAVA
A
Celebrating 50 years
FTER 50 years of growth and change, Foodland Balaklava now offers all sections of a general supermarket, with 1200m² floor space, up to 16,000 items for sale and 54 employees on the books. It is a gigantic, complex business to run for owners, Mike and Megan Smith, but one they take great pride in. They more than represent the Foodland brand, the state’s premier local supermarket label. The battle to provide a service that rivals the major supermarket chains and secure local business has always been ongoing but one they feel they’re winning. “We always try to offer competitive prices but on the odd occasion we can’t, our service is something we always concentrate on as a point of difference,” Megan said. Their oldest daughter, Jasmyn is currently studying tourism and hospitality at university and related how businesses in those industries are looking to provide customers with an ‘experience’. “I can see how that is starting to be applied in retail,” Megan said. “People want to have an experience every time they shop, and in a way, we’re trying to provide that now too.” Simple things like great customer service, helpful, welcoming employees and a wide range of choice are just a few ways Foodland Balaklava stands out as a great example. Michael and Megan’s oldest child, Dylan, has worked at the shop for five years, and appreciates good work ethics and customer service, learnt from “starting at the bottom” as a stock boy, before moving to
Special Feature
Current staff Back: Jordan Taylor, Dillon Zanker, Dylan Smith, Jake Olsen, Deb Blackwell, Mel Zanker, Michael Smith. Centre: Sally Fritz, Sonia Mumford, Sharon Moulds, Chloe Grosse, Jodie Cullen, Jasmyn Smith, Kelly Zanker. Front: Di Mudge, Larraine Grosse, Bronny Olsen, Kate Rodgers, Tanya Kraft, Megan Smith.
Grown with the times n THE LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS WHICH HAS…
dairy manager. He progressed to second in charge of grocery, and is now store operations manager. The time demands are high, as expected, although Mike tries to get away from the shop more regularly and Megan makes a concerted effort to be home before youngest daughter, Gabi, gets home from school. “She is in year 11 now, so it is becoming easier,” Mike said. “When all three kids were at school, it was hard but Megan always tried to be there for them.” Staying on top of between 15,000 to 16,000 different items for sale is no mean feat either. “It is not easy,” Mike said.
“Things are changing constantly from season to season, companies completely change their products from month to month. “Sometimes a customer particularly likes a line but a company will discontinue it to bring out a new thing.” When a new item arrives, a dilemma ensues. “We have to decide if it will sell or not, then where to put it, or if we can get rid of a different item in its place,” Mike said. Of the stranger items of the shelf, Mike rates ‘nut meat’ as the weirdest he has come across, a canned protein substitute for vegetarians.
“After 30 years I still can’t work out how people can eat it,” he laughed. From the grim to the great, the bakery section is Mike’s favourite, particularly in the morning with its freshly baked aroma. “I’m a real sucker for a yeast bun or a freshly baked finger bun,” he said. A self-confessed chocoholic, Megan is a fan of the brown confectionary, particularly dark chocolate. Foodland Balaklava also has a strong local produce focus, a majority of fruit and vegetables grown in South Australian gardens and purchased from the markets at Pooraka.
“Foodland has encouraged us, if there is a supplier in our community, to use them,” Mike said. Products from the family owned Gawler South Bakery have recently been added at Foodland. “They’re a family business like us, so we like to help them out,” Megan said. “Last year we were forced to spend time away from the business when I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Megan said. “The stress we were under was enormous but our great staff stepped up and let us have our time away, for which we are very grateful.”
Adelaide East
Proud supplier of bakery products to Foodland Balaklava. Congratulations to the Smith family on a great achievement
2 - BALAKLAVA FOODLAND www.plainsproducer.com.au
Elders Insurance Adelaide East are your local insurance specialists
Congratulations to the Smith family on 50 successful years in business
Plains Producer, Wednesday, August 28 2013