If you can cast your mind back 120 years, it’s fair to say life was vastly different. Some of the modern-day conveniences are easy to take for granted just how convenient they are.
One of the struggles for butchers in 1905 was to keep their products fresh for as long as possible. Refrigeration relied heavily on ice, and as you can imagine, those selling ice were able to charge a premium. This, along with market reforms and bad debts, were inhibiting growth and threatening the very livelihood of many butchers, and the future appeared bleak.
To combat this challenge the two meat trade associations (Port Adelaide Master Butchers’ Association & the Adelaide and Suburban Master Butchers’ Association) in South Australia came together to increase their buying power and form ‘The Master Butchers Association Limited’. This allowed them to flex the muscle of the new association to renegotiate a cheaper price for all butchers involved. Naturally, this sparked the idea to expand this buying power beyond ice, into butchery ingredients and equipment. Thus formed the Master Butchers Cooperative.
Fast forward 120 years, and that seemingly small alliance has laid the foundations for one of the oldest co-operatives in Australia. Celebrating 120 years in 2025, MBL (as it’s now known) has expanded from the meat industry to also service members from all food production industries, including seafood and bakery.
MBL still has the same mission over a century later – to lead through excellence; to shape the food, produce and beverage industries by delivering the best quality products and services; to innovate solutions; and to support a mutually beneficial co-operative that aims to achieve success for all.
