In 1902 Charlie Klose and his family moved to Lobethal and established a store selling groceries, drapery,
hardware and fodder. He also imported drapery and crockery to sell to other retailers throughout South Australia.
He traded as Klose’s Cash Store.
Charlie’s youngest son Reg started working in the business in 1927 and in 1936 built a hawker’s van and began travelling throughout the Adelaide Hills selling drapery and other goods. In 1937 Reg and his new bride Mona settled at Birdwood and established their own drapery store. Reg bought another general store at Mt Pleasant in 1949 and employed
a manger to run the business for him. After recurring management problems, Reg sold the store three years later.
In 1955 Reg built a new self-service grocery store in Birdwood and commenced trading as Klose’s Super Mart.
He ended his hawker’s run around this time also.
Reg purchased a run-down store in Lobethal in 1962 and with the help of his sons Graham and Barry converted it to a self-serve operation trading as Klose’s Super Mart. They operated both Lobethal and Birdwood together until the store
at Birdwood was sold in 1970 with plans to focus on their operation at Lobethal.
In 1980 Reg and Barry built a new supermarket at 18 Main Street Lobethal and four years later they joined the Foodland group. A small store at Woodside was purchased in 1993 and then another at Balhannah in 2001. These stores were both renovated and also joined the Foodland group.
After more than 100 years, the business is still owned by the Klose family and we are excited to have opened our
fourth Foodland Supermarket in Littlehampton since November 2011.