From selling pickles on a horse and cart around the streets of Sydney, to being one of the country’s most recognisable supermarket brands, Three Threes has built a powerful reputation on McAlpine family values for over 100 years.
Stanley Roy McAlpine and Winifred Grace started making and selling delicious condiments from their home in 1919. Over time, the business grew and eventually they established a factory in Lidcombe that is still operating today.
Three Threes’ extensive product lines span across premium condiments such as pickles, relishes, olives, and gourmet table sauces. The now fifth generation business exclusively supports Australian farmers, sourcing produce from across New South Wales and Queensland.
“We try and focus on locally made products, and everything is processed here. In answer to consumer requests for Australian grown pickles and beetroot, we have also proudly introduced the McAlpine Signature Range,” said Three Threes office manager Justine McAlpine.
In manufacturing some of Australia’s most iconic household products, Three Threes aims to source locally for dependable and consistently high-quality parts. Through Motion, the business has benefited from CRC Industries lubricant products, and industrial motorisation from TECO.
“While our food products are quite traditional, we try wherever we can to upgrade and improve our machinery to ensure the best quality,” said McAlpine.
“Things like our filling machine, labeller, palletiser and similar equipment needs to be serviced in a way that is cost effective, but also going to deliver a better result. Motion helps us a lot in that way.”
Over the last 100 years, Three Threes have kept family recipes at the heart of their business, introducing iconic products such as Mightymight to the range. Quality is at the heart of everything they do, operating to thorough codes of safety and hazard mitigation from start to finish.
“I think when products are being imported, there is no guarantee that it is coming from the same supplier all the time,” said McAlpine.
“So, because it is all sourced here, we are following strict rules and regulations which helps consumers feel confident in their purchase.”
McAlpine is optimistic about the future of Three Threes, as many of the operational duties are becoming the responsibility of her son and fifth generation McAlpine, Tim.
“Often people will ring us just to say that it is great that we are still a family company,” she said.
“You know, we are one of the oldest original national food manufacturers, and it is something to be immensely proud of.”