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We're proud of our history and believe
sharing it with our Customers is important.
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The Charlesworth Family.
From left:
Brett, Mark
and Chappy. |
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We presently employ up to 250 people and are creating new employment opportunities very regularly. We already have Customers all over Australia (who order through our Factory Direct and Wholesale services). In the long term Charlesworth Nuts may consider expanding, interstate (either with franchised or company owned stores), as well as in South Australia.
Mark & Brett Charlesworth
Quality and Service are still, and always will be, the cornerstone of our business. Over the last seventy two years, Charlesworth Nuts has earned its reputation for having the "Best and Freshest Nuts, Dried Fruit and Chocolates in Australia". Customers who value Quality and Freshness have come to trust us for our high standards, and Customers who like being treated well know that they’ll be 'spoiled' at Charlesworth Nuts.
Our only regret is that our Grandparents, Doris and Herb, are no longer around to witness how their small Central Market stall has developed and grown into a highly respected South Australian Business that still believes in, and lives by, the same values they laid down over 75 years ago.
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The origin of Charlesworth Nuts extends way back to 1934, when we established a small Nut and Dried Fruit stall at the Central Market in the heart of Adelaide. Our Grandfather, Herb Charlesworth, bought this stall as an interest for our Grandmother, Doris, who managed the stall on her own.
Chappy Charlesworth
After World War II their son, Chappy (our Dad), reluctantly left the navy to assist in the management of the business, mainly due to Herb’s ill health. Over the next 20 years Chappy doubled the size of the stall, increased turnover dramatically and developed an incredibly successful business specialising exclusively in all sorts of Nuts and Dried Fruits.
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During this time he earned a widespread reputation for the very high quality of the Charlesworth product. In the 1950’s he introduced the concept of roasting nuts on site (the first person in Australia to do so) and selling them straight from the roaster, fresh and hot. Chappy’s obsession with Quality and his courage to Innovate proved to be vital to the Company’s continuing success.
Fortunately, Chappy found enough time in the 1950’s to marry Joy and settle down to have 2 sons, Mark and myself. As our father had done before us, we found ourselves helping out in the business from an early age during school holidays and weekends. It was probably during those early years that it got into our blood.
In the mid 1970’s, prior to leaving school, Mark and I decided independently that our futures lay with Charlesworth Nuts and consequently we both took steps to provide ourselves with the necessary skills and experience to manage a growing business. When Mark and I joined the Company in the late 1970’s, Chappy ceased to take on an active full time role.
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Following, you’ll find a brief chronological history of our growth from 1 retail store in the Central Market in 1934, to 8 stores throughout South Australia today.
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From Left to Right: Kain, Brett, Mark, Liam, Rhys and In Front Chappy |
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2004
CHARLESWORTH NUTS TURNED SEVENTY... and was inducted into South Australia's "Family Business Hall of Fame".
This year also saw yet another total store refurbishment. This time our City Cross store was relocated within Adelaide's City Cross Arcade. Also, our store at Westfield Shoppingtown Marion underwent a minor facelift with fresh new colours (and pictures on the wall) and a relocation of the cooking area.
2005
It was the Factory Shop's turn this year to receive a totally new fitout. But it didn't stop there... the offices received the treatment too! Reception and downstairs administration received new carpet, window furnishings and a new paint job. The upstairs offices were extended and they too were repainted and recarpeted.
2006
Our Colonnades Team finally relocated to their brand new store in the 'Fresh Life' food precinct, in Centro Colonnades, at the end of March.
2008
We have been extremely busy this year with our Westfield Marion, Tea Tree Plaza, Myer Centre and Westlakes stores all receiving extensive facelifts.
2009
This year is our 75th Anniversary since the Charlesworth Nuts Central Market store opened.
Coincidentally this year is the Central Market's turn for a major upgrade... its first once since 1989.
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1974
We opened our second store at Westfield Shoppingtown Marion.
1978
We constructed our present Office and Factory complex at Marion. This complex underwent a major upgrading in 1989.
1979
We opened our third store in the newly constructed Colonnades Shopping Centre in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
1980
We started to learn the craft of Chocolate and Confectionery manufacturing (including Glazing) and began to process a selected range of these products at our Factory.
1983
Our fourth store was opened in the heart of Adelaide’s shopping district in the renovated City Cross Arcade.
1985
Our fifth and sixth stores are opened at Westfield Shoppingtown Tea Tree Plaza and Elizabeth City Centre respectively. Our Factory Shop also opened.
1986
We started to expand our small gift range (6 gift packs) introducing innovative basket designs incorporating our own handmade bows. At Christmas time now our range is around 100 gifts with annual sales accounting for a whopping 40% of our total turnover. Today our gifts continue to be at the leading edge of retailing trends.
During 1986 we also become the first people in Australia to develop innovative new nut products and mixes such as Charleys Choice, Millionaires Mix and Gone Troppo Mix. Charleys Choice has since become the flagship of all our mixes.
1987
Our first year of trade from a small stand in the Showbag Hall at the Royal Adelaide Show. This proves so popular that it becomes a very successful annual promotion for Charlesworth Nuts, in September every year.
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1991
We opened our seventh store in the Myer Centre in Rundle Mall.
1992
Our eighth store was opened in the renovated Westfield Shoppingtown West Lakes Centre.
1994
For the first time we opened our Factory to the public, launching our "FREE Factory Tours". These free tours prove so popular that, by 1996, over 5,000 people a year visit our Factory (unfortunately, due to rising insurance costs, we are no longer able to conduct tours of the Factory).
1995
After 8 hugely successful years selling showbags from Hamilton Hall at the Royal Adelaide Show our stand moved (along with all the other showbag stands) to its present location in the Wayville Pavilion.
1997
One of our leading stores, at Westfield Shoppingtown Marion, moved into its brand new location at the supermarket end of the newly expanded and refurbished Westfield shopping complex.
2000
Another of our leading stores, this one at Westfield Shoppingtown Tea Tree Plaza, was completely refurbished.
2002
Sections of our Factory at Marion were airconditioned and extra storage areas were built.
2003
Our store at Elizabeth Shopping Centre underwent refurbishment.... it was relocated within the centre into a bigger and brighter brand new shop. Sadly this year also saw the end of our ever popular free factory tours due to rising insurance costs.
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Empress Creative