Welcome to the official website for Fairleys SUPA IGA Shepparton!
Fairleys has been established since 1899 and is a well respected, well known business, employing more than 240 people. Over the past 33 years the Shepparton site has been in operation, It has flourished and grown to become the leading independent grocery store in Victoria.
The success of the business has been attributed to the foresight of the Managing Director who envisaged that through sheer persistance and the offer of great customer service and a complete shopping experience, would ensure that Fairleys SUPA IGA would become the leading independent supermarket in Victoria.News & Events
BRIEF HISTORY OF FAIRLEYS:
James Fairley came to Shepparton in 1887 and purchased [after a period of service] North Eastern Farmers Association Store in High Street Shepparton, where he added drapery to what was predominately a grocery store. In 1899 he purchased Thos Geddes Store in Fryers Street, Shepparton.
James Fairley died in March 1907. The general store was carried on after his death by his sons; Mr. J. F Fairley, Sir Andrew and William Fairley until April 1925 when the business was purchased by Mr. S. G. Gaylard and managed by his eldest sons Arthur and Walter. These two were joined later by sons Alan and Max.
In approximately 1932, the premises were substantially altered and the brick wall fronting Maude Street was replaced by display windows and practically all interior dividing walls were removed. After the death of Mr. S. G. Gaylard in 1940, the business was carried on by his estate and later purchased from this entity by Messrs. Arthur, Alan and Max Gaylard who carried on and purchased the property from Mr. J. F. Fairley in 1955.
In or approximately 1962, the land at the rear, which was used for a parking area, was built on. This building comprised of a basement, ground and first floor. The partnership was formed into a propriety company in 1957 with Arthur, Alan and Max Gaylard as directors. John Gaylard, eldest son of Alan Gaylard, later joined these. Again later, another son, Peter joined the Company and was appointed Company Secretary.
In 1978 the Gaylard Family decided to expand their business and opened up a Supermarket at the current site in Numurkah Road where the business grew and flourished. A new Supermarket was built in Echuca Road, Mooroopna in 1984 and another purchased in Echuca.
After several years the supermarket in Echuca was sold. In 1994 John and Peter separated their joint ownership of the two remaining supermarkets with Peter taking over as sole owner at Mooroopna (to which he sold to Coles at a later date), whilst John retained the ownership of the Shepparton store.