Barbeques Galore currently runs more than 150 retail stores across the United States and Australia; however, this multibillion-dollar corporation made its humble beginnings from a small town in Auburn, NSW when a father-son duo decided to sell barbeques from their backyard. Their aim was to provide fellow barbeque-lovers with an ingenious, easily manageable barbeque. Ever since the first Sale signboard went up, the customers never stopped pouring in.
Inspired by their sudden success, Max Mason and his father Hilton went ahead to open the first Barbeques Galore store in Silverware, Sydney. They also launched one store per capital city and a huge warehouse to efficiently service all these stores. Just three years later, in 1980 Barbeques Galore opened their first store in the US in Los Angeles. It would be another seven years before The Galore Group appointed its first licensee and franchisee in the US.
In the early ‘80s, Barbeque Galore took over Cook-On, their wholesalers of gas barbeques and gas camping equipment. Having grown to be Cook-On’s best customers, this was a well-approached acquisition. Within 6 years of their birth, Barbeques Galore became such a commercial hit, that they regrouped to form The Galore Group. The product line was also been spread out to encompass outdoor furniture, camping equipment and tents.
Growing simultaneously in Australia as well as the US, the Galore Group went on to focus on the core businesses of barbeques, heaters, camping and coolers. The side-businesses, such as opticals and steel were sold off, and emphasis was laid on the establishment of a clear market position and a culture of responsibility and accountability among employees at store level were introduced. Basically, the motto was Enhancing Our Customers’ Lifestyle’, and for this reason the Licensee Division was brought under the umbrella of the Retail Division.
In 1997, Barbeques Galore Limited enlisted on the New York Stock Exchange, and since then the group has doubled its potential. In February 2005, the Barbeques Galore head office moved out of Auburn to Homebush. All corporate, retail, finance and wholesale divisions are now under the one roof.
