Coles has recreated its original store in Melbourne as it celebrates 100 years of trade this year.
Located at 288 Smith St in Melbourne’s Collingwood, the store marks the start of the chain’s centenary celebrations.
“2014 is an important year for Coles as we celebrate the fact that we have now been serving our customers for 100 years,” Ian McLeod, Coles MD, said.
“During the course of the year, we will celebrate this event with our customers, team members, and suppliers to commemorate this great Coles community and our uniquely Australian story,” McLeod said.
GJ Coles and his brother James opened the first Coles store in April 1914, located on Smith St in Collingwood, Victoria.
“GJ Coles was a businessman, a family man and a philanthropist – dedicated to providing both great quality and great value, as well as a strong commitment to customer and community service. 100 years on and Coles remains true to the core principles of its founder and we will continue to strive to do so, keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do.”
Throughout 2014, Coles will be marking this milestone and Coles’ transformation from its humble beginnings with just six team members, to becoming one of Australia’s largest employers, with 100,000 team members serving more than 19 million customers a week.
It is currently rebuilding a brand new supermarket at the site of its second store in Australia which is also located on Smith St in Collingwood.
In 1930, GJ Coles, the founder of Coles said, “A very important thing to remember when purchasing is to order Australian-made goods, as this obviously creates more employment in Australia than does the handling of goods produced elsewhere.”
