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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-08-28 Daily Xml
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Motions

Bickford's Australia Anniversary

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (10:56): On behalf of the member for Chaffey, I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises that a proudly Australian family-owned business, Bickford's Australia, will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2024;

(b) congratulates Bickford's Australia for reaching this remarkable milestone and acknowledges its legacy and historical connection with South Australia;

(c) celebrates this iconic local business for its outstanding business success and innovation to becoming a globally recognised brand and acknowledges the family’s vision for manufacturing in South Australia;

(d) notes the significant positive social, cultural and economic impacts that Bickford's Australia has had for the manufacturing sector, beverage production industry and wider community; and

(e) recognises Bickford's Australia for their continued efforts to keeping their production and employment local and for maintaining their status as an Australian family-owned and managed business.

It is a privilege to rise to speak about Bickford's, a very important South Australian company and a very important Australian company. Bickford's is Australian-owned, proudly family-owned, and is celebrating its 150th anniversary, an absolutely remarkable milestone and a legacy going back with course, deep roots in South Australia.

A bit about the history: Bickford's began its story in 1839 with William and Anne Bickford. William, who was apprenticed as a druggist and veterinary assistant in England, set sail for South Australia in 1838 with £10 and the dream of becoming a sheep farmer. He met his wife, Anne, on the voyage and they married shortly after arriving.

The price of sheep made it too expensive to be a farmer and instead he focused on his apprenticeship. In 1839, William and Anne opened their first shop in Hindley Street where they made and sold medicines for both people and animals, as well as tonics and household items such as pickles, sauces and soaps. They cornered the market for fresh River Murray leeches which were a common remedy at the time.

In 1845, William began experimenting with creating lime juice. There was a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables largely due to transit spoiling and a lack of experience growing crops. William used brown limes from the Caribbean that were deemed inedible, and this led to the birth of the iconic Bickford's lime juice cordial that we all enjoy today. At that stage, they were hand-bottling and labelling 84 bottles per day.

William sadly passed away from pneumonia in 1850 at the age of 35. After his death, Anne took over the business until their sons came of age. In 1874, A. M. Bickford & Sons was established, which was the start of the commercial business we know today. Anne remained the figurehead of the company, which was unprecedented at the time. She led an incredible legacy with her sons. They:

opened a factory in Waymouth Street;

bottled 1,500 bottles per day through gas and horse-powered equipment;

opened showrooms and a second office in Perth;

began overseas exports in 1881; and

launched coffee syrup in 1919 to combat the shortage post World War I, still a staple item of Bickford's range today.

The company changed hands many times throughout the 20th century. The head facility was moved to Port Road in 1930, manufacturing beverages and medical and dental equipment. It moved again in 1994 to larger premises and, finally, into its current location in Salisbury South in 2007.

Bickford's today is Australia's best-selling premium cordial. It is headed by managing director Angelo Kotses. It is Australia's fastest-growing premium juice range—22 flavours, with 80 per cent of the market share. The Salisbury factory produces lime cordial at 13,500 bottles per hour, with no manual intervention from liquid batching to label application.

A production of 400 products across 35 trademarks—cordial, carbonates, alcohol, flavoured water, dairy and alternatives, coffee syrup, etc.—is all part of their range. It also owns the 23rd Street Distillery at Renmark, with a premium liquor range: gin, brandy, vodka and whiskey. It owns Beenleigh Distillery, Australia's oldest continuously operating distillery—140 years this year. It also owns Beresford Estate Winery at McLaren Vale, the Vale Brewing Restaurant and Bar at McLaren Vale, and 90,000 trees in a pomegranate orchard in the Murray Valley.

They employ more than 100 people at the Salisbury South head office and 150 personnel at sites across Australia. They export to more than 45 countries globally. Facilities house eight production lines, including an aseptic filling line, one of the only lines of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and is one of the only beverage companies in Australia to blow bottles and fill them on site. It is certainly an amazing company and does amazing things. It is a great credit to all those who have been involved over the time.

In 2024, they released six anniversary cordials as part of their celebration, a creative blend of nostalgic flavours with a Bickford's twist. It is certainly an amazing company, with an amazing ability to perform and grow, an amazing history of a family coming to South Australia and growing their business to see what it is today and to see how successful they have been. It has been a privilege, with my connections and when I was Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, to have been involved and see the work they were doing up at the distillery at Renmark, as well as the Vale Brewing Bar in particular. It is certainly a great credit to the company of today. They are continuing to build on their history. I will leave my remarks there.

Ms PRATT (Frome) (11:03): I rise today to speak to the motion, recognising Bickford's 150th anniversary being marked this year in 2024, noting that they are proudly still an Australian family-owned business. I take this opportunity to quite shamelessly plug and promote a brand that has been and continues to be a part of our own Pratt family tradition.

I have not known a day in my life where there was not a bottle of Bickford's brown lime cordial on the kitchen bench. To expand further on this topic is to provide insight into my own drinking habits, which have habitually revolved around this delicious elixir. To come inside from a hot day moving sheep or checking troughs meant unlimited glasses of brown lime cordial and ice cold water. To maximise the zing of a fresh lime off the tree, I would fashion a glass of nose-popping soda water with generous lashes of lime cordial, and that always hit the spot.

To enhance the mood, one can add vodka for that evening aperitif to make the classic vodka, lime and soda. But let me be very clear: many a bartender has been told by me that a lime wedge is not enough. If the cordial is not Bickford's, then you can forget about it. If you are making a punch, whether it is kid-friendly or for adults, then you cannot go wrong with a glug of tropical juice. While I note there are other anniversary editions, it is brown lime cordial all the way for me.

While these light-hearted reflections are very much a part of my family's history of this delicious product, it is the history of the Bickford's company that we acknowledge today. I thank my friend and colleague the member for Chaffey for bringing this special anniversary to our attention today. The member is resolute in his own advocacy of our unique South Australian brands and icons, and rightly so because there are so many to celebrate, but behind their successes are the trials and tribulations that go with building a brand and establishing that brand amongst competitors.

Bickford's trace their roots back to 1839, when William and Anne Bickford opened and operated an apothecary on Hindley Street, just a stone's throw away, and grew it into a respected family business. In 1874, following the death of William Bickford, the business would evolve into what is known today and developed the first Bickford's cordial as well as aerated waters. That very special lime juice cordial was one of the first products and remains a flagship of the Bickford's range.

After several changes of ownership during the 20th century, Bickford's was acquired by its current owners in 1999 and maintains its long-held status as an Australian family-owned and managed business. In 2006, Bickford's original design for the lime juice cordial was recognised by the National Trust of South Australia as a heritage icon, and rightly so.

Today, Bickford's export to more than 45 countries. Their business produces more than 400 products. In Salisbury—where we can also find the iconic R.M. Williams manufacturing plant, which I celebrate and recognise with a local connection to Frome—that lime juice cordial is produced at a rate of 12,500 bottles per hour, I am told.

Brown lime cordial is unique to South Australia, respecting the original liquid and the story of its inception. Bickford's brown lime cordial achieved that South Australian heritage in 2009, as I mentioned. While it is interesting to note perhaps that in other states Bickford's lime cordial is greenish in colour, I have discovered, in a horrifying realisation, that in WA the brown lime cordial sitting on the shelf is pale in colour and, quite disconcertingly to me, looks like the diet variety. I appreciate that the diet products exist, but it is the original all the way for me.

Today, under the guidance of managing director Angelo Kotses, we continue to celebrate this fantastic icon. Bickford's have a group portfolio 400 strong. It is recognised as Australia's bestselling glass-bottled cordial range. The original iced coffee syrup from 1919 and Australia's original liquid coffee product set the standards for South Australia's love and fascination with iced coffee. Within its stable is also the 23rd Street Distillery, which has, as we know, a premium liquor range of gin. I was happy to be up in the Riverland in Renmark at 23rd Street Distillery over the weekend, celebrating with rural doctors. They chose a prime location for their awards night.

In this economic climate, the opposition certainly recognises that there is enormous pressure when it comes to the cost of doing business. In this current economic climate, we are seeing soaring power prices at a time when we all need our businesses, from small mum-and-dad shops to big, iconic brands like Bickford's, to flourish and thrive. One hundred and fifty years on, Bickford's have witnessed much economic and global turbulence, but their reputation stands the test of time. In the Pratt household, I am happy to say, at a minimum, that the Bickford's legacy lives on. I commend this motion to the house.

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:09): I rise in support of this motion and wish to congratulate Bickford's Australia on their 150 years. I had the pleasure, with the original mover of the motion, the honourable member for Chaffey, of attending the celebration, along with a number of my colleagues, at the Art Gallery of South Australia. It was really a fitting celebration for such an iconic South Australian brand.

The Bickford's story started in Hindley Street, in my community in the City of Adelaide. The Bickfords opened an apothecary on Hindley Street, where they sold medicines and tonics as well as household items, such as pickles, sauces and soaps. It grew to become a thriving and respected family business. In around 1874 they began the production of cordials. One of the earliest cordials ever made was, of course, their lime juice cordial, which is iconic and very famous and remains one of their bestsellers today.

I am not sure if this is a country town thing, but you do not just get served Panadol when you are a sick kid in the country. My mum would heat up Bickford's lime cordial with a dash of hot water, and that would cure all various ailments in my family. There were always numerous jars of Bickford's lime cordial in our pantry at the farm at Bool Lagoon and also in Naracoorte.

I also want to congratulate the managing director, Mr Angelo Kotses, who began working at Bickford's in 1992. In 1999, the family purchased the business, transforming it into a successful national and international business and a household name. It now boasts sales offices, wineries, vineyards, tasting pavilions, distilleries, farms, visitor centres, restaurants and accommodations all around Australia. Yet, amidst their expansive reach, Bickford's have stayed committed to their roots and have kept their support centre and main manufacturing facilities in South Australia, for which they should be congratulated and commended.

It is so important that we take these moments to celebrate iconic South Australian companies such as this. It is something we have been doing, and just over a week ago we had Buy SA Week. It is just a reminder to all South Australians that, if you can just change one dollar of every $20 of spending from overseas products and switch it to South Australian-made brands, we can funnel millions of dollars into South Australian businesses and products and to our producers and farmers as well. So, next time you are at the supermarket and you feel like a bit of a sweet treat, make sure you go straight to the cordial aisle and buy Bickford's cordial. Congratulations again to this iconic South Australian brand on 150 years.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (11:12): As the local member in Ramsay, I am so pleased that Bickford's made Salisbury their home, moving there in the early 2000s and of course establishing their production facility a few years later. When they moved, Angelo Kotses said this:

Bickford's Australia's world class beverage manufacturing has been part of South Australia's heritage since 1839.

Our products range from waters, juices, iced teas, to the world famous Bickford's cordials. Recently, we had a choice to move our new production operations to either the north or south of the Adelaide business district. We chose Salisbury in the north, because the Council there had been exceptional to deal with in terms of planning approvals…

Being located in Salisbury means we are close to our major customers and we have ease of access to a Council that will continue to work with us to further grow our business in the region. For Bickford's everything adds up, Salisbury is the perfect location.

Since the great decision of Bickford's to move to Salisbury, we have seen many other operations that have been established there and have grown; R.M. Williams, for example. Of course, in just a few months, Haigh's will also be relocating their manufacturing facilities to Salisbury. Can I tell you, that Facebook post, when I heard the chocolate factory was moving, received the most likes I had ever had.

We have heard today about this 150 years of history. It is a great South Australian story. I have had the opportunity to meet with Angelo at two of the facilities on many occasions. Of course, the exports to more than 40 countries have been widely established for many decades. The online sales at Sippify have also added to their strength.

I also want to take the opportunity to recognise their areas of investment in the tourism industry, particularly with Beresford Estate, which has accommodation and, of course, wine tasting as well. One of my absolute favourites is 23rd Street Distillery, both in Renmark and North Adelaide. It is a great visitors' centre telling about the history, particularly about brandy and other things. It is a great asset to the Riverland.

One of the things that we want to do is recognise that Bickford's supports lots of local events. They have been a notable community partner in the popular Salisbury.RUN event, and I really thank Bickford's for continuing to commit to South Australia and, of course, our northern suburbs. It is something important to recognise when people commit to our state and do not just commit but continue to be entrepreneurial and innovative. Can I say to Bickford's: happy 150th birthday.

The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (11:15): I want to also congratulate Bickford's on their 150-year anniversary. It is a very much significant milestone for South Australia's business sector. It is one of our most iconic and beloved companies not only in this state but around the country. For 150 years Bickford's has been more than just a brand in South Australia: it is really an important part of our local economy and a real testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that we see across the state, not only from the original Bickford family but the Kotses family since they have taken it over.

Obviously, Bickford's began in 1839 with William and Anne Bickford opening on Hindley Street with their original products of medicines, tonics and other household items and then moving into drink production, which began in 1874. That was the start of the legacy we now know as Bickford's.

What we have seen since Angelo and his family took it over in 1999—Angelo joined the company in 1992 but took it over in 1999, purchasing the business—is that he has really transformed Bickford's into a national powerhouse and also an exporter as well. It really has become a household name not only across South Australia but across the country and, I think, a real symbol of what can be achieved in business here in South Australia with the right plan, the right business acumen and that dedication that we have seen from the Kotses family.

I was very fortunate to be at the 150th birthday for Bickford's at the Art Gallery earlier this year, and we can certainly say with confidence that the Kotses family's leadership has been instrumental in continuing that Bickford's success story through the years.

I do want to offer my very deep condolences to Angelo and his daughters on the recent passing of Mary. She was obviously a very treasured and cherished member of the community, known as a very kind and vibrant woman, and I know her loss is deeply felt by everyone who knew her but in particular Angelo and his daughters. I want to pass on my thoughts and prayers to the Kotses family during this very difficult time.

Bickford's are, of course, recognised not just around Australia, as I said, but around the globe, really representing the best of South Australia. From their very expansive range of beverages, including one of my favourites, the lime juice cordial, they have maintained the highest standards in their beverage production. It really is that dedication to excellence that has won them accolades and awards and really solidified their reputation as a leader in the beverage industry around the country. They are continually adapting and continually changing their product line to suit consumer needs, and it is that innovation that I think really stands them in excellent stead.

From my personal experience in business and through all the businesses that I have got to know as the Minister for Small and Family Business, it really is that innovation and that diversification that are so important to a successful business. Bickford's demonstrates that time and time again, continually introducing new product lines. In fact, they released six new celebration flavours to mark their 150th anniversary, from lime spider to mango coconut splash, one of my favourites of that range in pink lemonade, creamy soda, raspberry ripple and strawberry lime crush. There is some excellent new product out there, so if anyone wants to buy a little bit of Bickford's those celebration flavours are worth trying.

Bickford's is a shining example of how a family business can make such a significant contribution to our local community and our local economy. It is tough to be running a business, with sleepless nights, tough decisions, and that relentless pursuit for growth and stability. It is no mean feat, and I really want to congratulate the Kotses family, and the Bickfords before them, on such an impressive journey in their business success story. For 150 years they have weathered the hard times and they have emerged stronger, they have absolutely maintained their commitment to quality and their dedication to our community, and it is truly inspiring.

Of course, they have expanded around the country with various offshoots of their business, with tasting pavilions, distilleries, restaurants and vineyards. The Kotses family are incredibly entrepreneurial. They have a workforce of over 300 people around the country, but they have stayed committed to sourcing local ingredients wherever they can and supporting our local farmers and our local businesses, which I think is highly commendable. That sort of commitment to local ripples through the South Australian economy and is something that we should be very proud of in the Kotses family.

Of course, these products are a staple in our homes. We all have a Bickford's cordial in our pantry or in our fridge, and I think it is something that many of the members here will have grown up with, and their children are, no doubt, adopting as well. I want to express my heartfelt congratulations to the entire Bickford's team, past and present, on meeting this incredible 150-year milestone. Their sheer hard work and dedication, and their continuous commitment to excellence, has made Bickford's a household name. Again, congratulations and happy 150 years to Bickford's.

Mrs PEARCE (King) (11:22): I would also like to add my thanks and congratulations to Bickford's on an incredible achievement of 150 years. It has been really interesting to hear everybody's preferences of Bickford's products in their households. It sounds like lime cordial has been a strong frontrunner, but I will admit that I am an iced coffee girl. There is nothing better in the summer months than to be able to make an iced coffee, thanks to Bickford's, and adding just a little bit of Golden North ice cream to that as well.

I had the great pleasure of visiting Bickford's a couple of months ago with the Minister for Trade and Investment to catch up with Angelo and the fantastic team there and hear about all of the work they currently have underway. I am really blown away by all of the phenomenal work they do. They are revolutionary in what they do, and they adapt to get things done. I want to thank them very much for the work they do and for their fierce support of investing in regions and also, of course, their fierce support of showing the world just what South Australia can do. I understand that is across 47 countries now, which is absolutely phenomenal.

However, what is most important, and what I would really like to highlight to the chamber today, is the amazing way that Bickford's works as a team. They are more than a team, they are more than an employment place, they are a family. They dream big and they get things done. With that in mind, thank you for everything that you do, and congratulations on such an impressive milestone.

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (11:23): I, too, would like to rise to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Bickford's. There is no better time to do it than off the back of Buy SA Week, which was last week, when so many of us were out in our communities celebrating the wonderful South Australian businesses that we are all so proud to support.

Personally, I get most of my South Australian products from a little fruit and veg shop at St Agnes Shopping Centre called Frankie and the Grocer. They have a full section on the side with South Australian products where you can find Kytons Bakery, Billson's cordial and all different South Australian products. I am really proud to support that local business when looking for South Australian made.

Like many of the other members in this chamber, I too have celebrated Bickford's this year in my own way in my community. I would like to call out one of my favourite organisations and that is, of course, the volunteer group that runs the Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum. This year, the Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum celebrated 170 years of its building. A lot of people talk to me about my community as if it is newly established. Many of the areas, particularly down in Modbury, for example, have only been there 40-odd years, but up at the Hills face, sort of on Perseverance Road, we have a number of buildings that have been there for a very long time, which existed in the former village of Steventon in what we call the Tea Tree Gully historical precinct.

At the Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum, which was formerly the old Highercombe Hotel, this year we celebrated 170 years of that building but also significant milestones and birthdays of other South Australian organisations. We had a lovely Sunday afternoon celebration. We had 100 years of the Garford Fire Truck, which was there. We celebrated 180 years of Penfolds. There was wine, of course, much needed at a celebration like that one. We also celebrated 150 years of Bickford's and were all given the opportunity to taste the new anniversary editions of Bickford's cordial. That was, I believe, given to the museum as a donation from Bickford's so that we could celebrate those milestones of the South Australian brands and also South Australian community groups such as those that volunteer at my beloved museum.

I found it really interesting hearing the stories from the members for Frome and Adelaide about their experiences growing up with cordial. I am happy to confirm that I had never had lime cordial until I was an adult. I actually have a very different story, but similar, to the member for Adelaide's. We grew up with blackcurrant cordial. There was always blackcurrant in the pantry. At nana's, if you were sick, you would get a glass of hot blackcurrant. Again, I had not heard of the hot lime version, but when we were sick we would have a little bit of Bickford's blackcurrant in the bottom of the cup with boiling water filled to the top and you were only allowed to have it if you were sick.

For some reason, when you were not sick we had to have our blackcurrant cold, but if you were unwell you were allowed to have hot blackcurrant, which was a real treat. That was something that we always grew up with in the house, both with mum and at nana's house. I must admit, it is still in my house to this day. I am in this habit of always buying a bottle of Bickford's blackcurrant to have at the back of the pantry just in case I, or any guests, happen to be unwell.

It is really interesting how you get into these sort of family traditions and do not even think much of it. Now I always have a bottle of lemon, lime and bitters cordial and also the blackcurrant at the back in case I am not feeling myself. I think that says a lot about the way that South Australian brands, such as Bickford's, actually permeate into the consciousness of families and become part of family traditions in South Australia.

It is really interesting for me hearing the variance of that same story by the member for Adelaide talking about a hot lime cordial when she was unwell, with my family and I having hot blackcurrant cordial when we were unwell. I think it says a lot about the reach and also the influence that a company such as Bickford's has had on South Australian families in a way that perhaps we do not even think of at times. It was not until I heard the other members' stories that I have even really thought about that tradition and what it has meant for us.

It is a really important occasion today to be celebrating Bickford's and to be thanking Bickford's. I am particularly thankful for the pink lemonade anniversary cordial. I hope they continue that one for years to come because that, of course, has also made its way into my pantry, whether I am well or unwell, and I really enjoy that one. I would like to say a very big happy birthday, happy anniversary to Bickford's.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills) (11:28): I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak briefly on this motion acknowledging 150 years of Bickford's. I was very fortunate to represent the suburb of Salisbury South where the Bickford's manufacturing plant resided for four years between 2018 and 2022, and visited there with Angelo Kotses on a number of occasions to tour the facility and talk about the things they were doing. I got to know Angelo very well. He has provided me with a lot of really important and valuable advice over the years, and we still speak quite often. What he has done there in terms of the growth in Bickford's is pretty remarkable and one of the great success stories, I think, of any local manufacturing company in South Australia when you consider where things were before Angelo came on board.

One of the things that first struck me upon visiting the plant there in Salisbury South for the first time was the incredible breadth of labels that actually fall under the Bickford's banner that I had no idea were Bickford's products. There is Vok, a whole heap of other things that are staples in our supermarkets and other stores as well, and homewares brands that Bickford's has branched out into as well that exist not just here in South Australia but also interstate. It is a remarkable story and a fantastic story of local employment, of course, right there in Salisbury South.

I was very pleased recently to join some of the other people who have spoken to this motion this morning at the event in the city acknowledging 150 years of Bickford's and pay my respects to Angelo and the rest of his team and thank them for all they have done. I know that the member for Enfield mentioned previously that Angelo has recently lost his wife after a long time. I want to pay my respects to Angelo and to Mary as well. I know that they were incredibly close and Angelo is obviously doing it pretty tough, I think, at the moment. I wanted to make mention of that, but more than anything else take the opportunity to talk about a very proud South Australian company that is doing incredible things.

I think we have the tendency sometimes—particularly post car-making and automotive in South Australia and the decline of that post the closure of Holden—to not so much think of ourselves as a manufacturing state as much as we used to be. We spend a lot of time, as we should, talking about the opportunity that AUKUS presents our state, but there is still a lot of amazing manufacturing that goes on already. Bickford's is a fantastic example of that, using local produce and marketing it to not just our state and Australia but the rest of the world as well.

It is important that we use occasions like this motion today to actually highlight those fantastic stories. I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to speak, as someone who formerly represented the area and is a big supporter of Bickford's and all the work that Angelo Kotses and his team have done.

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (11:32): Firstly, I would like to thank the member for Chaffey for putting this motion on the Notice Paper. Unfortunately, he was not able to be here this morning to move the motion, but certainly he has great admiration for Bickford's and Angelo in his management of the business.

It is a great legacy and a remarkable legacy for South Australia to see this company and see how it has grown. It is very much a social and cultural icon and part of this state. It delivers quality products right around the world. A big congratulations to them on their 150 years, and a big thankyou to Angelo Kotses and family.

As the two ministers commented, it was very sad to read the news of Mary passing only last month. It was very much about teamwork, and Mary's work in homewares and her business was also very important to South Australia. To lose Mary in such an important year just highlights how wonderful the business is to be able to actually reflect on what they have done in their time in control.

A big congratulations to Angelo and family. Keep going with the efforts in the production of Bickford's products. It is certainly an important part of South Australia and I am very privileged to be able to move this motion.

Motion carried.

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