The Flannery Story

Not just a promotional image, Berice Flannery (nee Mitchell) was raised on a Victorian farm where just about everything her family ate was home-grown, fresh and chemical free. Even the family soaps and cleaning products were handmade. So a natural and healthy lifestyle has been a part of Mrs Flannery's entire life.

The Flannery Family, from left, Mal, daughter
Genevieve, Berice and son-in-law and
Managing Director, Martin Meek

After marrying Mal Flannery, Berice and her husband ran a dairy farm, apple and cherry orchard, egg producing business and operated several fruit shops. They enjoyed a good life as they raised their four children.

It was after moving to the Gold Coast that the family decided to venture into a health food business, based on a health food store they saw while holidaying in London.

The first Mrs Flannery store opened in the early 70's and offered about 60 food lines. Of course society is now far more health conscious with more and more people embracing organic and special dietary foods, vitamins and supplements, and today, Mrs Flannery's stores on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast carry over 8,000 product lines.

With a strong interest in eating naturally and a background in retail food, Martin Meek knew he'd found his ideal match when he married Genevieve Flannery. Today, as Managing Director of the Mrs Flannery's franchise group, he has seen interest in natural and organic foods explode. Because of the group's enormous buying power, and Martin's dedicated research into the best and newest products to come onto the market, the stores are a 'wonderland' of good eating choices.

Genevieve Flannery

Still family owned and run and now a successful franchise, the Flannery's are proud of their pioneering history in the Australian health food industry. Berice, now in her 70's still takes an active interest in the business and at over 70 years of age, Mal still manages the Fresh Produce and Health & Commodity Wholesale Department of the operation - testimony to the benefits of healthy eating.