Spudshed

Spudshed[notes 1] is an independent supermarket chain in Western Australia. The store was founded by Tony Galati, and forms part of the family-owned Galati Group.

Spudshed Fresh Food Markets
Spudshed
TypePrivate
IndustryAgribusiness, Retail
Founded1998 (1998) in Baldivis, Western Australia
FounderTony Galati
Headquarters630 Karel Ave,
Jandakot, Western Australia
,
Australia
Number of locations
17
Area served
Western Australia
ProductsFruit and vegetables, groceries, meat
Revenue$404 million (2020[1])
$7.6 million (2020)
OwnerTony Galati
Number of employees
1154 (Estimated) (June 2020)
Websitespudshed.com.au

The chain consists of a total of 17 stores across Western Australia (as of August 2022). Its main competitors are Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA. Spudshed differentiates itself by operating most stores 24 hours a day[2][3] and retailing low cost produce grown on Galati family farms throughout the state.

History

The first Spudshed was opened in Baldivis in November 1998, originally as a farmers market in a shed on Galati's Baldivis property. In 2018, Spudshed reported profit growth of 76%, or $4 million.[4]

Tony Galati

Spudshed founder Antonino "Tony" Galati was born on 1 April 1961 and is the eldest son of Sicilian migrants Francessco and Maria Galati, who started a two-hectare market garden in Spearwood in the 1960s.[5] He has a brother, Vincenzo "Vince" Galati and a sister. Galati has 3 sons and a daughter, Francessco Galati, Sebastian Galati, Anthony Galati and Alana Galati.

He became a household name in Western Australia for his protracted legal battles against the Potato Marketing Corporation of Western Australia. In 2015, the PMC launched legal action against Galati, alleging that he had planted more than his allocated quota of potatoes.[6] Prohibited from selling excess potatoes due to legal quotas, Galati used free potato giveaways at his Spudshed stores to protest against what he considered to be unfair and excessive control by the board.[7] Galati ultimately prevailed when the state government deregulated the industry, with the PMC becoming defunct in December 2016.[8][9]

The battle between Galati and the PMC was celebrated in a Fringe World musical in 2019, returning again in 2020.[10]

Notes
  1. Spud is a colloquial term for potato in English.

See also

References
  1. Smith, Sean (2 November 2020). "Virus sales rush sends Spudshed revenue soaring above 400m". Thewest.com.au.
  2. "WA potato laws embroiled in controversy". Watoday.com.au. 15 March 2012.
  3. Brown, Natalie; Thompson, Brad (15 January 2015). "Spud giveaway proves big hit". The West Australian. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. Brammer, Jenne (18 November 2018). "Tony Galati's Spudshed empire grows profits by 76% to nearly $4m". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. Brammer, Jenne (19 February 2019). "Tony Galati goes back to his Spearwood roots to open 11th Spudshed store". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. Fitzgerald, Bridget (2015). "The West Australian potato regulator to take Spud Shed owner Tony Galati to court over alleged breach of a commercial agreement". ABC News.
  7. "Potato giveaway drives a wedge between growers". Abc.net.au. 27 January 2015.
  8. "Premier defends decision to drop potato lawsuit". Abc.net.au. 30 May 2017.
  9. Blanchini, Justin (17 November 2017). "Spud King Tony Galati giving away free potatoes at his Spud Shed stores across Perth all weekend". Wanneroo Times.
  10. "Tony Galati the Musical". Fringe World. 2020.
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