Fred Harrison celebrates 50 years of service
The Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula wishes to acknowledge the service of Fred Harrison at Ritchies for the past 50 years,
and his ongoing contribution to the Peninsula.
Mr Harrison has had an enormous impact in his local community, and was a founding member and Chair of the Committee for Greater
Frankston (now Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula).
In the early 1970s, he began his journey with Ritchies when he sold fresh produce from his family garden to the local store. Impressed by Mr Harrison’s enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit, Barry Cameron (CEO at the time) brought him on board as a trolley boy. Over the decades, he steadily rose through the ranks – stocking shelves, working in store management, and eventually moving into executive leadership roles through to CEO.
Mr Harrison’s leadership style is grounded in understanding every aspect of the business, an insight developed through the variety of positions he’s held over the years. Under his guidance, Ritchies has expanded its footprint, modernised its operations, and championed many charitable programs – ultimately fostering a culture of giving back with an incredible $54 million given back to the community so far. He has also led the company’s efforts to stay at the forefront of industry trends, ensuring Ritchies continues to offer customers top-quality products and a memorable in-store experience.
Ritchies now has over 80 supermarket and liquor stores, more than 6,500 staff and turnover of approximately $1.4 billion, cementing its position as one of the country’s largest private companies, and a preeminent supermarket and liquor operator within the retail industry. Mr Harrison’s passion and leadership over the last 50 years has been instrumental in helping Ritchies reach such a position.
“Fred’s 50-year journey epitomises Ritchies’ core values of community, loyalty, and continuous improvement,” says Ritchies Director Mal Cameron. “His passion and commitment have shaped both our company’s success and its role in supporting local initiatives. We couldn’t be prouder to celebrate this milestone with him.”
Ritchies Victorian State Manager and Director Wayne Harrison shared his thoughts on his father’s significant contributions to Ritchies’ growth and success. His remarks emphasise Fred’s dedication to retail and independent businesses, as well as the lasting impact he has made as CEO of Ritchies.
“Dad has been at Ritchies my whole life, and the majority of his. He is incredibly passionate when it comes to Ritchies, but also retail in general,” Wayne said. “I am confident he will continue to be recognised for his work in growing Ritchies from a small Mornington Peninsula-based retailer to the extensive footprint we have today, as well as for his ongoing efforts in strengthening and supporting the independent retail network for many years to come. Dad has always been resolute in his belief that Australian customers need strong independent retailers for their range and tailored customer service as an alternative to the chains”.
Reflecting on his half-century with the business, Fred Harrison said, “I’ve always felt at home at Ritchies – starting out delivering
fruit and veg from my backyard, to pushing trolleys, and for the past 31 years leading as CEO. My greatest pride is seeing how we’ve grown
while keeping that strong community focus that sets us apart.”
