Best & Less
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | January 1965 |
| Founder | Berel Ginges |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Apparel, home textiles |
| Parent | BB Retail Capital |
Best & Less is an Australian retailer that focuses on apparel and home textiles. By October 2022, the company managed 182 physical outlets in addition to its e-commerce site.
History
The company was established by Berel Ginges in January 1965, initially operating within a section of the closing department store "Snows". The first official Best & Less location launched on 27 May 1965 in Parramatta, having originally traded under the name "Shenows".
Best & Less gained recognition for its economical store layout featuring simple fixtures, paired with the advertising tagline "You don't pay for any fancy overheads," frequently presented by Joy Muir, who was then leading the Australian Housewives' Association.
In 1998, ownership transferred to South African investment firm Pepkor. Subsequently, Steinhoff Asia Pacific (which later became Greenlit Brands) acquired Pepkor in 2014, thereby taking control of Best & Less.
Allegro Funds acquired Best & Less from Greenlit Brands in December 2019, returning the retailer to private Australian ownership.
Best & Less Group
The holding company overseeing both Best & Less and New Zealand’s clothing retailer Postie is known as Best & Less Group. It went public on the Australian Securities Exchange in July 2021 under the ticker BST.
In February 2023, CEO Rodney Orrock stepped down to prioritize his health.
By July 2023, Best & Less was taken private again following its acquisition by BB Retail Capital.