Ritchies Stores Victorian State Manager Wayne Harrison.
Fred Harrison has announced that he will step down as Chief Executive Officer of Ritchies, effective 31 December 2026, from which time Wayne Harrison will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Fred has served as CEO of Ritchies since 1994, and has been instrumental in guiding the company through an extraordinary period of growth and transformation. As highlighted during his 50 Years at Ritchies Celebration, Fred has overseen the expansion of its store network, the modernisation of operations, and the introduction of numerous charitable initiatives. Under his leadership, Ritchies has given back over $54 million to the communities it serves.
Today, Ritchies operates more than 82 supermarkets and liquor stores, employs over 6,500 staff, and generates annual turnover of approximately $1.5 billion – “firmly positioning the company as one of Australia’s largest privately owned businesses and the leading Independent licensed supermarket operator in Australia.”
While Fred will step down as CEO, he is not retiring from Ritchies. From 1 January 2027, he will move into a more informal role as Executive Director. This role will include supporting Wayne as he transitions into the CEO position, as well as contributing to the ongoing success of Ritchies. Fred will continue with Ritchies on an ongoing basis.
To prepare for this transition, Wayne will step down from his current role as Victorian State Manager in February 2026 and take on the role of CEO Elect. During this period, Wayne will report directly to Fred and assume the ‘second-in-command’ position, with all positions in Ritchies having a dotted reporting line to him.
This planned and structured handover will ensure the continuity of Ritchies’ values, strategy, and culture as Wayne prepares to take on this important role.
“The handover from Fred to Wayne, continues to cement Ritchies as a family-oriented company and will also ensure that the consistency and stability of the company’s leadership team continues for many more years to come.”
