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Thomas Dux Grocer

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Thomas Dux Grocer
IndustryRetail
Founded2008
Defunct2017
HeadquartersMelbourne
Sydney
Number of locations
11
ParentWoolworths
Websitewww.thomasdux.com.au

Thomas Dux Grocer, also known as Thomas Dux, was an Australian chain of gourmet grocery stores operated by Woolworths from 2008 to 2017.[1]

It sold a range of local and imported fresh foods and grocery items. Products included fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, artisan-style baked breads, oils and vinegars, pasta and sauces, condiments, prepared meals, chocolate products, fresh meat and fresh flowers. Thomas Dux specialised in organic, gluten-free, preservative-free and free-range foods. Local boutique suppliers included Saskia Beer, Maggie Beer, Simmone Logue, Herbies, Ornella, Phillippa's, Rowie's, Brasserie Bread, Irrewarra and Geoff Jansz. Fruit and vegetables were sourced directly from the wholesale markets in Sydney and Melbourne on a daily basis.

History

Woolworths launched Thomas Dux, an upmarket grocery store, in April 2008 with the first store in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove followed by another in Paddington.[2]

In May 2009, Woolworths announced the acquisition of eight boutique grocery store leases in Crows Nest, Hornsby and Mona Vale in Sydney, and Armadale, Black Rock, Glen Waverley, Port Melbourne and Richmond in Melbourne from Macro Wholefoods, with the intention to rebadge the stores under the Thomas Dux brand.[3][4] The first of the rebadged stores opened in August 2009.

From 2014, Woolworths started closing some stores, with speculation that the entire chain would be sold or closed.[5][6][7]

In September 2014, Woolworths closed the Thomas Dux store in Surry Hills. The lease on the store was sold to About Life, a Sydney-based gourmet grocer. The Surry Hills store was the first of four leases Woolworths would ultimately sell to About Life by 2016.[8]

In May 2015 the Richmond store was sold to Little Group Projects, which then demolished it and built a 13-story apartment building on the land dubbed "Dux Richmond Hill".[9] In January 2016 the Glen Waverley store was closed, and throughout the remainder of 2016 Thomas Dux's Hornsby store in was closed, while its Crows Nest, Lane Cove and Port Melbourne outlets were taken over by About Life.[10][11]

In 2017 the four remaining Thomas Dux stores were closed. The two remaining Melbourne locations, Black Rock [12] and Armadale,[13] as well as the Paddington store [14] were rebranded as Woolworths Metro stores. The Mona Vale store was taken over by Flannerys.[15] As of December 2017, Thomas Dux has ceased trading altogether.[16] In 2021 the former Thomas Dux site at Black Rock was closed, and is believed to be reopening as a BWS or Dan Murphy's liquor outlet.

As at June 2021, Woolworths continued to sell limited gourmet products like cheese under the Thomas Dux brand.[17] This was similar to after buying Macro Wholefoods and closing their stores, but keeping the brand alive as a healthier food range on Woolworths shelves.

Stores

Suburb Address Previous use Subsequent use Date opened Date closed
Surry Hills 285A Crown Street Small Woolworths Supermarket About Life Wholefoods Store, Office space 19 April 2008 September 2014
Lane Cove 62 Burns Bay Road Food For Less supermarket, Franklins No Frills supermarket About Life Wholefoods Store, Flannerys Organic Grocer, Pet store 19 April 2008 29 February 2016
Glen Waverley Shop 2.200 The Glen Macro Wholefoods store[3] Unknown 29 August 2009[18] 31 January 2016
Crows Nest 13-19 Willoughby Road Macro Wholefoods store[3] About Life Wholefoods Store, Flannerys Organic Grocer, Medical centre 10 October 2009[19] 26 April 2016
Richmond 153 Bridge Road Macro Wholefoods store[3] Residential Apartment Tower 6 November 2009 31 May 2015
Port Melbourne 120 Bay Street Development site[3] About Life Wholefoods Store, Independent supermarket 7 January 2010 29 February 2016
Hornsby Shop 2009 Westfield Hornsby Macro Wholefoods store[3] Toys R Us, Uniqlo 26 September 2009[20] April 2016
Armadale 1068 High Street Macro Wholefoods store[3] Woolworths Metro Supermarket 19 September 2009 4 July 2017[16]
Paddington 220 Glenmore Road Small Woolworths supermarket Woolworths Metro Supermarket 13 August 2008 October 2017[16]
Mona Vale 12-14 Park Street Macro Wholefoods store[3] Flannerys Organic Grocer 5 September 2009[21] December 2017[16]
Black Rock 40 Bluff Road Macro Wholefoods store[3] Woolworths Metro Supermarket 3 October 2009[22] 4 July 2017[16]

References

  1. ^ Woolworths to launch new grocery chain > FOODweek Online > Main Features Page
  2. ^ Woolworths open first Thomas Dux store Australian Food News 24 April 2008
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Woolworths Limited to expand Thomas Dux Grocer with acquisition of Macro stores Woolworths 13 May 2009
  4. ^ ACCC not to oppose Woolworths' proposed acquisition of Macro Wholefoods Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 17 June 2009
  5. ^ Heffernan, Madeleine (4 October 2015). "Two Thomas Dux store closures blunt sale talk for Woolworths' upmarket chain". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  6. ^ King, Mike (2 February 2016). "Is Woolworths Limited about to shut Thomas Dux?". Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  7. ^ https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/icms_docs/185537_Woolworths_Limited_to_expand_Thomas_Dux_Grocer_with_acquisition_of_Macro_stores.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  8. ^ About life heading to Surry Hills Good Food 21 October 2014
  9. ^ Dux Richmond Hill Little Projects
  10. ^ Three Thomas Dux stores in Sydney to close Good Food 26 January 2016
  11. ^ "Mushroom Grow Kit. DIY Grow Bag Australia. Mushroom Spores Store".
  12. ^ "Woolworths Supermarket - Buy Groceries Online".
  13. ^ "Woolworths Supermarket - Buy Groceries Online".
  14. ^ "Woolworths Supermarket - Buy Groceries Online".
  15. ^ "Flannerys Mona Vale | Organic Health Food Store & Wholefood Market".
  16. ^ a b c d e "Woolworths farewells Thomas Dux". Retail World Magazine. December 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  17. ^ Speciality cheeses from around the world Woolworths
  18. ^ Thomas Dux Glen Waverley Launch Thomas Dux
  19. ^ Thomas Dux Crows Nest Launch Thomas Dux
  20. ^ Thomas Dux Hornsby Launch Thomas Dux
  21. ^ Thomas Dux Mona Vale Launch Thomas Dux
  22. ^ Thomas Dux Black Rock Launch Thomas Dux
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