Keeping it in the family: GCBEA August 2010

August 2010

ALREADY boasting a massive and diverse portfolio across hospitality, childcare, agriculture, medical facilities and retail, Fraser-Scott Group has further expanded into wholesale liquor distribution.

Queensland’s 20th largest privately-owned company has taken out the July Gold Coast Business Excellence Award in the family business category after also winning the wholesale, retail and distribution gong in May.

The latest venture for Fraser-Scott Group sees the family-owned management company wholesaling exclusive wine, beer and spirits to the Australia’s national independent liquor sector.

Managing director Robert Fraser-Scott says the creation of Australian Fermenters was instigated by the big supermarkets’ increasing dominance of the liquor industry.

In particular the anti-competitive pressure placed on independent liquor retailers by Coles-owned 1st Choice Liquor and Woolworths-owned Dan Murphy’s forced his hand.

“I watched the confusion in the industry over the heavily discounted prices found in Dan Murphy’s and 1st Choice, and I had seen how supermarket-ownership affected independent retailers in the UK,” says Fraser-Scott.

“I decided we would travel the world for a few years and discover all the best liquor products and now we have exclusive distribution rights for these brands into Australia.”

This division now distributes quality imported wines and its own locally produced private labels throughout its own buying group City Liquor and nationally through the independent buying groups.

The newest endeavour adds further diversification to Fraser-Scott Group, which also owns TAFE education provider the Gold Coast Institute of Technology.

Fraser-Scott says the strategy for the company was always to diversify risk – a concept brought on by a serious traffic accident in 1994.

“I was previously in the jewellery and diamond-industry and in 1994 a severe car crash left me with a broken back and in a wheelchair for around four years,” he says.

“It was then that I decided we needed to create a business that was not solely dependent on me. It was always our intension to spread our company across as many sectors as possible to fully diversify the risk.”

Over the last 16 years the company has gone from its first opened property – Coomera’s The Boathouse Tavern – to now own and manage 19 properties across almost all big Queensland non-resources industries.

The Gold Coast Institute of Technology alone employees more than 400 staff and its Coomera Kids Ed-u-care Centre is the largest child day-care provider in Australia catering for more than 600 families a week.

But for Fraser-Scott, his biggest asset is still family which ensures a fool-proof succession plan.

“My youngest daughter is still in high school but is very good with events and promotional material and my son Andrew is exceptional with looking after the night time operations of our hotels and clubs,” he says.

“Alison is now 32 and takes care of the entire marketing and advertising portfolio with her own office of four employees. My wife Laurie is an excellent operations manager while I take a more strategic overview into management of the company.

“We’re always looking for new opportunities and to refine the businesses operating efficiencies in whatever ways possible.”

MERGING BUSINESS
The British Lolly Shop

APPEALING to the large population of British expats as well as Gold Coast locals, The British Lolly Shop has successfully captured a growing market of sweet tooths.

The shop targets a demographic of sugar-lovers seeking products not found in mainstream supermarkets.

Owned and operated by Pauline and Glenn Callow, The British Lolly Shop specialises in a wide range of imported original British lollies, teas, drinks and gourmet foods.

MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION
Condev Construction

ROBINA-based Condev Construction is a mid-tier construction and development company that has been involved in numerous projects in and around the Gold Coast.

The company handles residential, commercial and industrial projects from design to handover.

Its recent completions include the $35 million The Wharf project in Robina and the $5.5 million new offices for Abigroup in Yatala. The latter project won the company the 2010 Master Builders Gold Coast Award for Industrial Buildings up to $4 million.

MAYOR’S INNOVATION AWARD
3DME

THE Arundel-based 3DME is a visualisation and multimedia company that ‘takes a look inside the human body’.

Finding ways to visually communicate complex medical situations such as heart surgery, joint replacement or multiple sclerosis, 3DME creates video presentations to inform and educate.

3DME is owned and operated by husband and wife team Luke and Sonya Brannelly, and clients include various medical surgeons and MS Australia.

The Brannellys are also involved in V2i (Vision to implementation), a company that specialises in detailed urban planning design and visualisation services.

RETAIL, WHOLESALE & DISTRIBUTION
B&J Canvas

CUSTOM PVC and canvas manufacturer B&J Canvas has been on the Gold Coast for 25 years and specialises in the design and supply of awnings, umbrellas, marquees and tents.

The Carrara-based company serves the commercial, industrial, retail and domestic markets to produce tailor made solutions and is a five time winner of the Australian Canvas and Synthetic Products Association Annual Award for Excellence.

TOURISM, HOSPITALITY & RECREATION
Spits ‘n’ Pieces

STARTING its life as a hobby 24 years ago, catering company Spits ‘n’ Pieces now has 200 functions booked in December alone and average of 10-15 jobs each week.

The company specialises in spit roasts and can cater for crowds of anywhere from 25 to 3000 across the Gold Coast and Brisbane markets.

TRADES, PROFESSIONS & SERVICES
All State Partners

ALL State Partners is a Varsity Lakes-based accountancy, financial and business advisory company that promotes itself as being a refreshing alternative to other organisations.

The company takes a long-term approach to clients and has a high staff retention rate that gives clients the confidence that they will be looked after personally.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & MULTIMEDIA
Beyondedge

BEYONDEDGE is an interactive firm and production studio that provides online, on-demand e-learning and creative communication.

It aims to solve business, training and sales problems with creative solutions and clients include Emergency Management Queensland, Westpac, ANZ and
Coca-Cola Amatil.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Grotec

FOUNDED on the Gold Coast in 1988, Grotec is a major player in the local horticulture industry and provides garden design, construction and maintenance.

Grotec is a family-run business with Sue, Peter and son Robert Bampton servicing the residential and commercial sector as well as being involved in master planning sites.

The Ashmore-based company’s designers use computer aided drawing (CAD) software and can also prepare submissions to local authorities to gain approval for
works.