Brumby's

Brumby's, commonly known as Brumby's Bakery, is an Australian bakery retail brand operating primarily through franchised stores. Its origins date to 1975, when Roger Gillespie opened an Old Style Bread Centre in Ashburton, Victoria. That business formed part of the fresh-bread retail movement that later also produced Bakers Delight, which Gillespie subsequently co-founded. As the bakery business expanded into Queensland, it adopted the Brumby's name and developed into a broader franchise network. The brand's operating model is based on local retail bakeries that prepare and sell baked goods through a combination of in-store production and customer-facing retail. Typical stores provide bread and other bakery products intended for frequent household purchase, together with pastries, cakes, savoury items and related food offerings. Franchisees generally operate with support in areas such as product standards, compliance, sales, marketing and store operations, while individual bakeries require suitable production, preparation and baking equipment. Brumby's underwent several ownership and corporate-structure changes during its development. It was first listed on the Australian Stock Exchange's second board in 1986 under Dancorp Limited, at a time when the network had 43 franchised stores. After Dancorp entered receivership, a cooperative of franchisees acquired the network in 2000. The chain was subsequently listed on the Bendigo Stock Exchange in 2003. By that time, the network had grown to more than 100 stores and was reported to have approximately 280 outlets. Retail Food Group acquired Brumby's in 2007, when the network was reported to have more than 320 franchises across Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand operations later developed a separate master-franchise arrangement. Café Coffee & Bakery Systems (NZ) Ltd acquired the New Zealand master-franchise rights for Brumby's and several other Retail Food Group brands in a transaction completed in January 2016. This structure allowed the brand to continue operating in New Zealand while remaining part of the wider Retail Food Group brand portfolio. Brumby's has also faced pressures common to mature franchise bakery chains, including changing outlet numbers, cost inflation and questions about the strategic priority of the brand within its parent company's portfolio. In 2012, an internal memo from the bakery's managing director suggested that franchisees raise prices and attribute the increase to Australia's carbon tax. The company apologised after the memo became public. In 2025, Retail Food Group said it was exploring a possible sale of Brumby's after reporting a statutory loss for the financial year and recording a non-cash impairment associated with the brand. Retail Food Group indicated that Brumby's was no longer among its principal growth priorities, although the business remained profitable according to reporting cited in the reference material. In February 2026, the group said it would retain the business after considering interest from multiple potential buyers, concluding that the available alternatives were not then in the best interests of shareholders, franchisees or employees.

Brumby's traces its history to 1975, when Roger Gillespie opened an Old Style Bread Centre in Ashburton, Victoria. The store was the predecessor of the later Brumby's chain and belonged to a period of development in Australian fresh-bread retailing that also produced Bakers Delight. Gillespie later co-founded Bakers Delight, while the original bakery business expanded beyond Victoria. As the business entered Queensland, it adopted the Brumby's name. The name became associated with a network of retail bakeries using a franchise-based structure, allowing independently operated stores to trade under a common brand and receive support for products, operations and marketing. This model linked local bakery production with a broader branded retail network. Brumby's reached an early corporate milestone in 1986, when it was listed on the second board of the Australian Stock Exchange under Dancorp Limited. The network had 43 franchised stores at the time. The Dancorp structure later encountered financial difficulties and was placed into receivership. In 2000, a cooperative made up of franchisees bought the network, preserving the operating business under franchise ownership. In 2003, the chain was listed on the Bendigo Stock Exchange. The network continued to expand during the early 2000s. It was reported to have more than 100 stores after the 2000 ownership transition and approximately 280 stores in 2003. Retail Food Group acquired Brumby's in 2007. At the time of the acquisition, the brand was reported to have more than 320 franchises throughout Australia and New Zealand. The acquisition placed Brumby's within a larger multi-brand food-service group and gave it access to the resources and systems of a major franchisor. The New Zealand business subsequently used a master-franchise arrangement. In a transaction completed in January 2016, Café Coffee & Bakery Systems (NZ) Ltd acquired the New Zealand master-franchise rights for Brumby's and several other Retail Food Group brands. This arrangement separated day-to-day New Zealand master-franchise responsibilities from the ownership of the wider brand portfolio. The chain attracted negative attention in 2012 after an internal memo from its managing director suggested that franchisees increase prices and blame the carbon tax for the increases. Brumby's apologised for the memo. The episode illustrated the sensitivity of pricing decisions in a franchise network, where national or group-level guidance can affect local operators and consumer perceptions. During the late 2010s and 2020s, Brumby's operated as a mature bakery franchise brand within Retail Food Group's portfolio. The business faced the strategic challenge of maintaining a large network while responding to changing consumer habits, costs and outlet economics. In 2025, Retail Food Group announced that it was exploring options to sell Brumby's following a statutory loss for the financial year and a non-cash impairment connected with the brand. The group said Brumby's was no longer part of its main growth priorities. Reporting at the time indicated that the Australian network had declined to about 70 outlets, although Retail Food Group said the business remained profitable. In February 2026, the group stated that it had reviewed interest from multiple potential buyers but would retain Brumby's because the available options were not then judged to serve shareholders, franchisees and employees adequately.

• 2026

  Parent company retains the brand

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Retail Food Group said it would retain Brumby's after reviewing interest from multiple potential buyers.

• 2025

  Retail Food Group considers divestment

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Retail Food Group announced that it was exploring options to sell Brumby's after an impairment and a statutory loss, while identifying the brand as outside its main growth priorities.

• 2016

  New Zealand master-franchise rights transferred

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Café Coffee & Bakery Systems (NZ) Ltd acquired the New Zealand master-franchise rights for Brumby's and several other Retail Food Group brands.

• 2007

  Acquisition by Retail Food Group

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Retail Food Group acquired Brumby's, which was then reported to have more than 320 franchises across Australia and New Zealand.

• 2003

  Bendigo Stock Exchange listing

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Brumby's was listed on the Bendigo Stock Exchange and was reported to have approximately 280 stores.

• 2000

  Franchisee cooperative acquires the network

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Following Dancorp's receivership, a cooperative of franchisees acquired the network, which had grown to more than 100 stores.

• 1986

  Early stock-market listing

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  The business was listed on the second board of the Australian Stock Exchange under Dancorp Limited, with 43 franchised stores reported at the time.

• 1975

  Old Style Bread Centre opens in Victoria

  [1]Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org

  Roger Gillespie opened an Old Style Bread Centre in Ashburton, Victoria, establishing the business that later became associated with Brumby's.

A franchised neighborhood bakery brand centered on fresh, in-store-produced bread and everyday baked goods.

• Bread

  Fresh bread

  Fresh bread is the core category associated with Brumby's retail bakeries. Stores are designed around daily bakery production and the sale of loaves and related bread products for household consumption.

• Bread

  Bread rolls

  Bread rolls and other smaller bread formats form part of the brand's everyday bakery range. They are sold through franchised stores alongside larger loaves and other baked products.

• Sweet bakery

  Pastries and cakes

  Brumby's stores also offer sweet bakery products, including pastries and cakes. These products extend the brand beyond staple bread and support occasion-based purchases and everyday snacking.

• Savoury bakery

  Savoury bakery items

  Savoury baked goods are part of the broader retail-bakery assortment. The category complements bread, pastries and cakes with prepared items intended for quick meals or snacks.

• 2012

  Carbon-tax pricing memo

  A memo attributed to Brumby's managing director suggested that franchisees raise prices and present the carbon tax as the reason for the increases. The company apologised after the memo became public.

  Source

Read more

• 2026

  Retail Food Group retains Brumby'sM&A

  Background

  Retail Food Group said it had considered interest from multiple potential buyers following its earlier review of strategic options.

  Action taken

  The group decided to retain Brumby's because the available alternatives were not considered to be in the best interests of shareholders, franchisees or employees at that time.

  Aftermath

  Brumby's remained part of Retail Food Group's portfolio.

  Source

• 2025

  Retail Food Group explores a saleM&A

  Background

  Retail Food Group reported a statutory loss, recorded a non-cash impairment related to Brumby's and said the brand was no longer among its principal growth priorities.

  Action taken

  The group began exploring possible divestment options for Brumby's.

  Aftermath

  The business remained under review, with reporting indicating that the Australian network had approximately 70 outlets and remained profitable.

  Source

• 2016

  New Zealand master-franchise arrangementStrategy

  Background

  Retail Food Group used master-franchise structures for some international operations.

  Action taken

  Café Coffee & Bakery Systems (NZ) Ltd acquired the New Zealand master-franchise rights for Brumby's and several other Retail Food Group brands.

  Aftermath

  The New Zealand rights operated under a local master franchise while the brand remained within the broader Retail Food Group portfolio.

  Source

• 2007

  Retail Food Group acquires Brumby'sM&A

  Background

  Brumby's had developed into a substantial franchised bakery network operating in Australia and New Zealand.

  Action taken

  Retail Food Group acquired the Brumby's business and incorporated it into its multi-brand food-service portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued operating as a Retail Food Group franchise network.

  Source

1. 1Brumby'sen.wikipedia.org