Franklins was founded in 1941 by Frank Lindstrom – which is where the Franklins name originated. In 1954, Franklins was bought by Harold Cornock and Norman Tieck. Thier supermarkets quickly developed a reputation for value, which they achieved by managing overheads to keep prices down. This is why Franklins is recognised as Australia’s original discount grocer.
The philosophy of delivering top value for money through low overheads underpinned the business as it grew. In the late 1970s, Tieck and Cornock sold Franklins to Dairy Farm International. With the exit of Dairy Farm International from the original Franklins business in May 2001, many of the stores were sold to other retailers and wholesalers. Pick ‘n Pay, a highly successful South African retailer, purchased 50 stores and the rights to the Franklins and No Frills brands later that year. At the same time, they bought 19 Fresco supermarkets that became Franklins stores.