Best & Less
Best & Less is an Australian value-focused retailer of clothing, children's apparel, footwear, and household linens.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Best & Less is an Australian value retailer that sells clothing and household textile products, with a particular emphasis on affordable apparel for families and children. The business began in Sydney in 1965 when Berel Ginges occupied part of the ground floor of the department store Snows, which was closing. Before adopting the Best & Less name, the location operated under the name Shenows. The first Best & Less store formally opened in Parramatta on 27 May 1965. The retailer's early proposition was built around low operating costs and straightforward merchandising. Its stores were deliberately functional, using relatively few fixtures and emphasizing products and prices rather than an elaborate department-store environment. This approach was summarized in the advertising line "You don't pay for any fancy overheads," which became closely associated with the brand. Advertisements often featured Joy Muir, then president of the Australian Housewives' Association, presenting the value message to consumers. Best & Less developed as a mass-market Australian chain serving customers seeking practical, inexpensive apparel and textile goods. Its assortment has included clothing for babies, children, women, and men, together with footwear, underwear, sleepwear, basics, and household linen. The business has operated through a network of physical stores supported by an online platform. As of October 2022, the chain had 182 stores and an online presence. Ownership changed several times as the retailer became part of larger investment and retail groups. South African investment company Pepkor acquired Best & Less in 1998. In 2014, Steinhoff Asia Pacific, later renamed Greenlit Brands, obtained the business through its acquisition of Pepkor. In December 2019, private-equity firm Allegro Funds acquired Best & Less from Greenlit Brands. Best & Less subsequently became part of Best & Less Group, a holding company that also included the New Zealand clothing chain Postie. The group was floated on the Australian Securities Exchange in July 2021 under the ticker BST. This public-company phase gave the group a formal listed structure while retaining Best & Less's core value-retail positioning. In February 2023, chief executive Rodney Orrock left the company, stating that he was stepping down to focus on his health. BB Retail Capital acquired Best & Less in July 2023, ending the company's period as an independently listed public group. Best & Less remains an active Australian retail brand, although detailed current ownership, management, store-count, and operating information is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
Best & Less was established in Australia by Berel Ginges in January 1965. The original operation occupied part of the ground floor of Snows, a department store that was in the process of closing. The premises had previously traded under the name Shenows. Best & Less formally opened its first store in Parramatta on 27 May 1965. From its earliest years, the business differentiated itself through a deliberately economical retail format. Stores used minimal fixtures and avoided the decorative investment associated with traditional department stores. The brand's advertising explained this model through the line "You don't pay for any fancy overheads," presenting low operating costs as a reason customers could obtain lower prices. Joy Muir, president of the Australian Housewives' Association at the time, was frequently used in advertisements to deliver the value proposition. The retailer expanded as a chain serving Australian households with inexpensive clothing and textile products. Its assortment developed across babywear, children's clothing, women's and men's apparel, underwear, sleepwear, footwear, and household linens. Best & Less combined physical stores with online retail, and the supplied reference material records 182 stores and an online platform in October 2022. Ownership shifted during the retailer's later development. Pepkor, a South African investment company, acquired Best & Less in 1998. Steinhoff Asia Pacific acquired Pepkor in 2014 and obtained Best & Less as part of that transaction. Steinhoff Asia Pacific was later renamed Greenlit Brands. In December 2019, Allegro Funds acquired Best & Less from Greenlit Brands. Best & Less was subsequently organized within Best & Less Group, whose portfolio also included the New Zealand clothing retailer Postie. The group became a public company on the Australian Securities Exchange in July 2021, trading under the code BST. This structure placed the Australian retail brand within a broader listed group while preserving its emphasis on value apparel and household textiles. A management transition occurred in February 2023, when chief executive Rodney Orrock left the company to focus on his health. In July 2023, BB Retail Capital acquired Best & Less. The transaction changed the ownership context after the group's public-market period. The supplied sources do not establish the current store count, detailed management team, or precise corporate structure after the acquisition. Best & Less is nevertheless identified as an active Australian retailer with a longstanding value-focused proposition.
- 2023
Chief executive Rodney Orrock departs
[1]Orrock left the chief executive position in February to focus on his health.
- 2023
BB Retail Capital acquires the brand
[1]BB Retail Capital acquired Best & Less in July.
- 2022
The retailer reaches 182 stores
[1]As of October, Best & Less was reported to have 182 stores and an online platform.
- 2021
Best & Less Group is listed on the ASX
[1]Best & Less Group, which also comprised New Zealand retailer Postie, was floated on the Australian Securities Exchange under BST in July.
- 2019
Allegro Funds acquires Best & Less
[1]Allegro Funds acquired the retailer from Greenlit Brands in December.
- 2014
Best & Less enters the Steinhoff Asia Pacific portfolio
[1]Steinhoff Asia Pacific obtained Best & Less through its acquisition of Pepkor. The regional business was later renamed Greenlit Brands.
- 1998
Pepkor acquires Best & Less
[1]South African investment company Pepkor acquired the Australian retailer.
- 1965
Best & Less is founded
[1]Berel Ginges founded the business in January, initially occupying part of the closing Snows department store. The first Best & Less store officially opened in Parramatta on 27 May.
Products and positioning
Value-oriented Australian family retailer offering practical clothing and household textiles at accessible prices through a low-overhead store model and online retail.
Apparel
Baby and children's clothing
A central part of Best & Less's family-oriented assortment, covering everyday garments for babies and children. The value proposition emphasizes practical use, accessible prices, and routine wardrobe needs rather than premium or designer positioning.
Apparel
Women's and men's apparel
Best & Less sells everyday clothing for adult customers, forming part of the chain's broad household apparel offer. The range supports the retailer's role as a general family clothing destination and is positioned around affordability and practical basics.
Apparel basics
Underwear, basics, and sleepwear
The retailer's basics-oriented lines include underwear and sleepwear, categories that fit its low-price, high-utility retail model. These products are intended for regular household purchasing and complement its broader family apparel assortment.
Footwear
Footwear
Footwear is included within Best & Less's general apparel and family retail offer. The category extends the chain's practical, value-focused proposition beyond clothing into everyday shoes and related household shopping needs.
Home textiles
Household linens
Best & Less also sells household linen and other textile products. This category broadens the brand from clothing retailer to value-oriented household destination, while remaining consistent with its emphasis on functional products and accessible pricing.
Marketing campaigns
- You don't pay for any fancy overheads
Australia
Best & Less used this advertising line to explain its deliberately simple store format and low-cost operating model. Advertisements often featured Joy Muir, then president of the Australian Housewives' Association, communicating the price-value message.
Outcome. The line became closely associated with the retailer's long-running value positioning.
Brand decisions
2023
BB Retail Capital acquires Best & LessM&ABackground
Best & Less had previously been owned by Allegro Funds and operated within the listed Best & Less Group.
Action taken
BB Retail Capital acquired Best & Less in July 2023.
Aftermath
The acquisition changed the retailer's ownership and followed its period as an ASX-listed group.
2021
Best & Less Group pursues a public listingStrategyBackground
Best & Less and New Zealand retailer Postie were organized within Best & Less Group.
Action taken
The group was floated on the Australian Securities Exchange in July 2021 under the code BST.
Aftermath
The group operated as a listed retail company until BB Retail Capital acquired Best & Less in 2023.
Recent events
Reported
Greenlit Brands sells its general merchandise division to Allegro Funds[2]
Steinhoff said its Australasian subsidiary Greenlit Brands sold its general merchandise division to Allegro Funds. The deal includes brands such as Best & Less and Debenhams Australia, along with more than 322 stores and over 6,100 employees.
Sources2 sources
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