Feature
Issue No. 33 - February/March 2007
Mercorella celebrates 40 years
Retailers demand on-time supply with very tight delivery windows. Miss by minutes and you'll be left at the gate - which is hardly ideal with a truck full of perishables.
That's the challenge fresh produce specialist the Mercorella Group takes on literally every day.
One of South Australia's quiet achievers, The Mercorella Group of companies had its beginnings in 1967 when Luciano and Maria Grazia Mercorella established themselves in the fruit and vegetable industry as L & M.G. Mercorella Pty Ltd with a vision to grow unique and challenging produce.
Loui and Grace started supplying Coles with fresh produce in 1975 and undertook a major move to a 13-acre block at Burton. In 1986 they set ups St George Produce Pty Ltd under their son, Mick Mercorella. St George was initially tasked with fruit and vegetable distribution for six small Coles stores, but in 1990 successfully tendered for warehousing, distribution and transport of fresh produce to all Coles SA/NT stores, a contract that remains a core part of Mercorella Group business.
Now one of South Australia's largest privately owned companies, Mercorella Group specialises in handling and distributing fresh produce to major supermarkets throughout Australia.
This year the group celebrates 40 years serving the food industry. Mercorella Group remains a family owned business and operates from a 16-acre site at Burton, strategically sited to serve clients most efficiently. The group employs more than 200 South Australians and includes several companies and divisions.
The Distribution Centre is a 14,800 sq m refrigerated facility that offers pre-chilling, controlled temperature warehousing, picking, cross docking, loading, distribution, supply consolidation and transport.
Wine & Wood is a new temperature-managed wine, beer and spirit storage and distribution facility.
St George Direct is an alliance buying arm for clients, drawing together the fragmented g...
