SA Chapter HALL OF FAME

Web: www.angelakis.com.au

Michael George Angelakis emigrated from the Greek Islands c.1924 in search of a better life for his family. His wife, Anika and three children George Michael, Nick and Evangelina remained in Greece with family. Michael travelled to Thevenard, near Ceduna on the West Coast of South Australia and used his experience as a fisherman to catch King George whiting using handlines and razor fish as bait.

It was not until 1936 that Anika and the children joined Michael. The family settled on the West Coast, renting a corrugated iron railway cottage. Michael was keen for his son George to complete his education. So George went to school in Adelaide. To pay his way, he worked as a labourer and borrowed a dinghy on weekends to go fishing for whiting. He enjoyed the fishing so much that, with his education completed, reverted to being a fisherman with his brother, Nick, back on the West Coast.

George, Nick and Evangelina grew up and raised families of their own, forming part of a large Greek community. George brought the West Coast fishermen together into what became SAFCOL. In 1959, George moved to Adelaide and began working as a storeman, but before long he bought a fish shop in the Adelaide Central Market.

In 1960, the family made a decision to sell the boats in Thevenard so all three branches of the family could be together in Adelaide.  Sam Sperou (husband of Evangelina) became the SAFCOL distribution manager. Together, the three families bought a poultry and rabbit business in the Central Market precinct.

The third generation began with Michael George (son of George Michael) doing business studies and then entering the family business in 1969. Michael had established many contacts with Chinese students at university. When these people opened restaurants, Angelakis Bros supplied them with seafood, poultry and game. Angelakis Bros are now a national distribution business trading seafood globally and focusing on packaging in ways to increase the shelf life of products.

The company now has a structured Board chaired by Stephen Evans, and in the thinking of a family that has always grown and prospered within family communities, it employs 150 ‘families’.

The next generation is in university and will have to work outside the family business for two years before qualifying to enter Angelakis Bros. They see their future influenced by aquaculture, technology and distribution to an ever-changing and complex retailing industry.

Angelakis Bros were inducted into the FBA(SA) Hall of Fame in 2007.