SWAN Hill Wholesalers is set to expand following the opening of its commercial catering showroom.
The move is a unique milestone for the region as the business transitions to become a leading supplier of commercial kitchen equipment, featuring leading brands including Uropa, Unox, Electrolux, Hoshizaki, Roband and Furnlink.
Unveiling their new showroom at their purpose-built Karinie Street facility today, owners John and Maree Giddings and general manager and shareholder Jason Collins said the expansion had been a work in progress as they continued to add value to their business.
“It’s very exciting to get to this point,” Maree said.
“We’ve been working behind the scenes for a while. There’s nothing like it between Bendigo and Mildura.”
While the wholesalers have been selling catering equipment and homewares for about eight years, it was always part of the business plan to open a showroom.
“It provides an opportunity for customers to come in and see firsthand the product,” Maree said.
“They can see and touch it.”
COVID presented many challenges for the hospitality industry and John said Swan Hill Wholesalers had to quickly adapt to ever-changing conditions.
“We had only just moved into our new premises in early 2020 when COVID hit,” John said.
“Our biggest business comes from the hospitality industry – pubs, clubs and cafes, so we had to reinvent the wheel.”
And reinvent it they did.
Three years on, Swan Hill Wholesalers has continued to diversify and expand.
It is part of Countrywide – Australia’s largest group of independently owned wholesale food service distributors.
It services a range of businesses, extending across the Swan Hill, Balranald, Buloke, Gannawarra and Mildura local government areas.
“As a collective group, we have buying power and are able to buy directly from the manufacturers, eliminating the middleman,” John said.
The continued success has not gone unnoticed and in 2021 Swan Hill Wholesalers was honoured as the Regional Group Member of the Year at the Countrywide annual awards.
Looking forward to unveiling their commercial catering showroom and transitioning into the next phase of their business, Maree said the move wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the support of the local community and local businesses.
“We’re so excited and the support and interest from the local community has been amazing,” Maree said.
