Australia Yearbook - 2001

754 Year Book Australia 2001
21.7 RETAIL INDUSTRY, By State
Number
of retail
outlets
Turnover
1947–48 1991–92
Turnover per
head of
population
Number
of retail
outlets
Turnover
Turnover per
head of
population
State/Territory
no. $m
$
no. $m
$
New South Wales 42 101 825 273 70 707 48 796 8 183
Victoria 34 333 575 275 54 330 33 331 7 482
Queensland 15 642 285 252 36 902 24 745 8 167
South Australia 10 207 169 256 17 619 10 726 7 362
Western Australia 7 826 139 270 19 721 13 718 8 274
Tasmania 3 555 62 238 5 905 3 458 7 357
Northern Territory 168 3 275 1 674 1 408 8 381
Australian Capital Territory 133 4 185 2 752 2 509 8 505
Total 113 965 2 062 267 209 614 138 695 7 928
Source: Retailing in [State/Territory], 1991–92 (8623.1—8623.8); Census of Retail Establishments, Year Ended 30 June 1948,
Bulletin No. 1 Australia (Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics).
In 1991–92, on the other hand, while the
number of food retailing locations had
increased by 43% to 65,734 locations (see
table 21.9), food retailing accounted for less
than a third of all retail locations. Furthermore,
by 1991–92 over 50% (34,443 locations) of the
food retailing locations were involved in either
takeaway food (20,034 locations) or cafes and
restaurants (14,409 locations). The comparable
sector in 1947–48, namely confectioners,
milk bars, cafes etc., accounted for only
8,659 locations. In the absence of the rapid
growth in takeaway food retailing, and in cafes
and restaurants, there would have been a
decline in the number of food retailing
locations.
21.9 FOOD RETAILING, By Sector—1991–92
Retail
locations
Proportion
of total food
retailing
Sector
no.
%
Supermarkets and grocery
stores 9 476 14.4
Fresh meat, fish and poultry
retailing 7 337 11.2
Fruit and vegetable retailing 3 650 5.6
Bread and cake retailing 4 755 7.2
Takeaway food retailing 20 334 30.9
Specialised food retailing
n.e.c. 5 773 8.8
Cafes and restaurants 14 409 21.9
Total food retailing 65 734 100.0
Source: Retailing in [State/Territory], 1991–92
(8623.1–8623.8).
21.8 FOOD RETAILING, By Sector—1947–48
Retail
locations
Proportion
of total food
retailing
locations
no.
%
Grocers 11 118 24.2
Mixed businesses 7 459 16.2
Confectioners, milk bars and
cafes 8 659 18.8
Butchers 6 540 14.2
Bakers and cake shops 4 717 10.3
Fruiterers 5 002 10.9
Delicatessens 1 261 2.7
Fishmongers and poulterers 1 185 2.6
Total food retailing 45 941 100.0
Source: Census of Retail Establishments, Year Ended 30
June 1948, Bulletin No. 1, Australia (Commonwealth
Bureau of Census and Statistics).
The emergence of the takeaway food store was
not the only phenomenon during the period,
which also saw the emergence of the
supermarket to replace the many corner
grocery stores and mixed business stores
operating in 1947–48. Whereas in 1947–48 there
were 18,577 grocers and mixed business
locations, by 1991–92 there were only
9,476 supermarkets and grocery stores. Of
course the impact of the supermarket was not
restricted to grocery and mixed business stores.
In the same period the number of fruit and
vegetable retailers declined by 27%; fresh meat,
fish and poultry retailers declined by 5%; and
the number of bread and cake retailers
remained largely unchanged.