
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd (SGH) is an Australian-owned retail conglomerate and one of the country's largest private companies. The first Spotlight store was established in Melbourne in 1973 by brothers Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried, who had immigrated to Australia from Israel in 1956. The brothers' parents set up a fabric stall at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, which inspired Morry and Ruben to open their first Spotlight store in Malvern in 1973. By 1990, there were 30 stores across Australia. Today, Spotlight Group Holdings is divided into the Spotlight Property Group, the Alara Investment Group, and the Spotlight Retail Group, which includes brands such as Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of company | Privately held Australian parent company |
| Divisions | Spotlight Property Group, Alara Investment Group, Spotlight Retail Group |
| Number of employees | 6,000 (2006) |
| Current number of stores | 100+ |
| First store location | Malvern, Melbourne |
| Year first store opened | 1973 |
| Founders | Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried |
| Founders' net worth (1990) | A$30 million |
| Founders' net worth (2021) | A$2.81 billion each |
| Collective net worth of Morry Fraid, Zac Fried and family (2021) | A$3.19 billion |
| Founders' country of origin | Israel |
| Year of immigration to Australia | 1956 |
| Founders' parents' business | Fabric stall at Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne |
| Current brands | Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, Harris Scarfe |
| Former brands | Saenger |
| Countries of operation | Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore |
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What You'll Learn
- Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned company
- The company's history dates back to a fabric stall in Melbourne
- The first Spotlight store opened in 1973
- The company has expanded to over 100 stores across Australia and New Zealand
- Spotlight Group Holdings also owns brands Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe

Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned company
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd (SGH) is an Australian-owned company. It is a privately held parent company that operates and invests in a diverse set of businesses and assets, including retail brands, a property group, and an investment group. The company has been built over more than 45 years and is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The roots of Spotlight Group can be traced back to a fabric stall at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market in the early 1970s. The first Spotlight store was opened in Malvern, Melbourne, in 1973 by brothers Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried, who had immigrated to Australia from Israel with their parents in 1956. By 1990, there were 30 Spotlight stores across Australia, and the company's success continued to grow.
Today, Spotlight Group Holdings is divided into three main divisions: the Spotlight Property Group, the Alara Investment Group, and the Spotlight Retail Group. The Spotlight Retail Group manages several iconic retail brands, including Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe. These brands offer a wide range of products, including fabrics, craft supplies, homewares, camping and hiking gear, clothing, and sporting goods.
The Spotlight Retail Group has expanded significantly, with over 150 stores across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The group's success can be attributed to its strong focus on customer service, with extensive training provided to team members to ensure they can offer valuable advice and expertise. The company employs thousands of people and has a collective net worth of billions of Australian dollars.
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd is a prominent Australian-owned company with a diverse range of businesses and a strong presence in the retail industry, both domestically and internationally. The company's growth and success are testament to the drive and business acumen of its founders and the values that continue to guide its operations.
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The company's history dates back to a fabric stall in Melbourne
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd (SGH) is an Australian-owned retail conglomerate and one of the country's largest private companies. The company's history dates back to a fabric stall in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market in the early 1970s. The founders of Spotlight, brothers Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried, worked at this family stall with their parents, who immigrated to Australia from Israel in 1956.
In September 1973, the first Spotlight store was opened in Malvern, Melbourne, offering 'Bargains Galore'. The store's product range included fabrics, craft, and homewares. The company slowly expanded, opening a second store in Box Hill in 1976. Over the years, Spotlight continued to grow, with 30 stores across Australia by 1990. The company's success can be attributed to its strong drive and business acumen, and commitment to customer service, with team members undergoing extensive training to ensure they can provide valuable advice.
Spotlight Group Holdings was formed to manage the diverse set of businesses and assets under the company. The group's interests include the Spotlight Retail Group, which operates the Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe brands. The Spotlight Property Group manages the group's property portfolio, while the Alara Investment Group oversees investment interests.
Today, Spotlight Group Holdings employs thousands of people and has operations throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. The company has stayed true to its roots, maintaining the personal touch, affordable prices, and attention to quality that have made it one of the most beloved stores in Australia and beyond. With over 100 stores and a constantly expanding range of products, Spotlight has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a fabric stall in Melbourne.
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The first Spotlight store opened in 1973
Spotlight is an Australian-owned and operated family business with stores throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The first Spotlight store opened in September 1973 in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern. The store offered "Bargains Galore" and marked the beginning of the group's evolution. The company traces its roots back to a family fabric stall at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market, which was established by the founders' parents in the early 1970s.
The founders, brothers Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried, immigrated to Australia from Israel in 1956. By 1990, just 17 years after opening their first store, there were 30 Spotlight stores across Australia, with a turnover of about A$90 million. The brothers' net worth was estimated at around A$30 million.
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd (SGH) is the Australian parent company that controls, operates, and invests in a diverse set of businesses and assets. The company has been built over more than 45 years and is headquartered in South Melbourne, Victoria. Spotlight Retail Group (SRG), a division of SGH, operates the Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe brands.
Today, Spotlight has over 100 stores and employs more than 6,700 team members dedicated to providing quality, service, price, and expertise in fabrics, crafts, and homewares to millions of customers annually. The company has expanded its product range to include haberdashery, craft supplies, party decorations, and costumes, in addition to its initial focus on fabrics.
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The company has expanded to over 100 stores across Australia and New Zealand
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned and operated company that has expanded to over 100 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The company's roots can be traced back to a fabric stall in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market in the 1970s. The first Spotlight store was opened in Malvern, Melbourne, in 1973 by brothers Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried, who had immigrated to Australia from Israel with their parents in 1956.
By 1990, there were 30 Spotlight stores across Australia, and the company's success continued to grow. In 1995, the company expanded to Asia with a store in Singapore, followed by its first New Zealand store in 1996. In 2014, the Group opened its first store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Today, the Spotlight Retail Group (SRG) owns and operates more than 150 stores for Spotlight and Anaconda throughout Australasia.
Spotlight Group Holdings is divided into three main divisions: the Spotlight Property Group, the Alara Investment Group, and the Spotlight Retail Group. The Spotlight Retail Group manages the iconic retail brands Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe. Anaconda, launched as Australia's leading outdoor adventure and sports superstore, has a network of 60 stores across all Australian states. Mountain Designs, acquired in 2018, is an Australian outdoor and adventure brand founded in 1975. Harris Scarfe, acquired in 2020, has been a beloved department store in Adelaide since 1849.
The success of Spotlight Group Holdings can be attributed to its diverse business interests, strong customer base, and commitment to customer service. The Group has acquired and developed a substantial retail and commercial property portfolio, with over 300 tenants across Australia and New Zealand. It employs more than 6,700 team members dedicated to providing quality, service, and expertise in fabrics, craft, and homewares to millions of customers annually.
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Spotlight Group Holdings also owns brands Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe
Spotlight Group Holdings, an Australian-owned company, has interests in a diverse set of businesses and assets. The company has expanded over more than 45 years, with operations in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
Spotlight Retail Group (SRG), a division of Spotlight Group Holdings, manages several iconic retail brands, including Spotlight, Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe. These brands share a set of core values, including a focus on people, success, and excellence.
Anaconda, a network of 60 stores across Australia, is an outdoor adventure and sports superstore. It offers a wide range of camping, fishing, and adventure gear, including the Anaconda carp tackle range, which is known for its high quality and innovation.
Mountain Designs, founded in 1975 by mountaineer Rick White, provides superior and innovative products for adventurers worldwide. The brand was acquired by the Spotlight Group in 2018 and is available online and in Anaconda stores across Australia.
Harris Scarfe, founded in 1849 as Adelaide's department store, has evolved over 170 years to become a well-known brand. It offers a broad range of products, including cooking, entertaining, bathroom, bed linen, and accessories, as well as apparel with national and international brands.
The Spotlight Group Holdings also includes the Spotlight Property Group, which manages the group's property portfolio, and the Alara Investment Group, which oversees investment interests. The group is headquartered in South Melbourne, Victoria, and employs 10,000 people across its various businesses.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Spotlight is Australian-owned and operated.
Spotlight Group Holdings Pty Ltd (SGH) is the parent company that owns Spotlight.
Spotlight Group Holdings owns several other companies, including Anaconda, Mountain Designs, and Harris Scarfe.
Spotlight Group Holdings is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

































