From 8-28 October, Australia’s network of family-founded stores, including IGA, IGA Liquor, IGA Local Grocer, Mitre 10, Total Tools, Home Hardware, Cellarbrations, The Bottle-O, Porters Liquor and Foodland, are uniting to launch Big Family, Big Prizes – a major national promotion giving shoppers the chance to win big.

New research from Bastion Insights Survey highlights the strong affinity Australians have for family founded businesses:

• Almost all Australians (95%) have shopped at a family founded business
• One in two Australians have shopped at a family-founded business in the last month
• Australians support family-founded stores for their positive community impact ie. 80% believe that these stores are more involved in their local communities and 76% say they do more to support local suppliers.

Over 3,200 stores are participating in the promotion, making it “one of the largest store collaborations Australia has ever seen.

“By spending $25 or more in participating stores in a single transaction, scanning the QR code and uploading their receipt to enter, hundreds of lucky Aussies will have the chance to win daily instant win gift cards. For every $25 spent they’ll also get an entry into the major prize draw to win one of 12 money can’t buy prizes worth up to $275,000 in total.”

These include an American Express Luxury Travel Experience for two, a trip for four to the Heineken Singapore F1, a garage makeover from Milwaukee Tools, a Kakadu adventure, a Lord Howe Island escape, a Nashville trip to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, and much more. Plus, by purchasing any products from participating brands, shoppers will also earn a bonus entry into the major prize draw.

Metcash CEO Doug Jones said, “As the wholesaler behind Australia’s network of family-founded stores, we back thousands of independents every day, in support of thriving local communities. With one in two Australians shopping at family-founded businesses in the last month, it’s clear that supporting local remains a strong priority. By bringing 11 of the brands we support together for the first time, we’re showing the strength and value independents can deliver when they stand side-by-side.”

“Family has always been at the heart of the independent retail network. Generations of local families have built businesses Australians rely on every day, and this event is about celebrating their hard work while giving shoppers an opportunity to benefit from their shared success.”

Following the national campaign launch, Melbourne will host its own one-day activation with a dedicated pop-up in Fitzroy on 9 October. The event will bring together products from across the network, spanning grocery, liquor and hardware, that demonstrate the collective scale of Australia’s family-founded stores.

“Nearly all of these stores began as family businesses built on hard work, trust and a commitment to their communities. More than just businesses, these stores are cornerstones of their communities, supporting local suppliers, creating jobs and reinvesting locally.

“Together, they form Australia’s biggest family of family-founded stores: a network built on trust, driven by people and dedicated to communities nationwide.”