Sauers Produce and Garden Centre owners Annette and David Lade retire

It was the end of an era in Gympie business in July 2022 when the Sauer family officially ended its long and affectionate association with the Gympie rural community. Read what happens next for the family and the business:

After almost 25 years of bringing garden and produce to Gympie under the name Sauer, the long-time business owners officially passed on the torch to another Gympie region duo on July 4, 2022.

Established in 1932 by Frank Sauer, Sauers Produce and Garden Centre opened in Tozer Street to support and provide for local farmers.

His two sons Ben and Kon soon joined the business and began to expand to Cooroy, Pomona and other branches along the coast.

Frank’s granddaughter Annette Lade, and her husband David Lade, took over the rent of the empty building in 1997, after Ben and Kon sold the property.

While the couple was forced to live on one wage and had to rely on Annette’s parents to help care for their two children, the business succeeded and grew.

The store soon expanded and the Lades bought the old family site in Cooroy to open a second store in 2001.

Annette and David Lade re-established Sauers Produce and Garden Centre in the original building from 1932.

The challenge of running a business was scary, Mr Lade said. But the best part of owning the business was interacting with their many customers, who were part of a “great community”.

“We have met some wonderful people. It’s been a good journey,” he said.

Mr Lade said it was sad to watch the region’s farming industry decline as it changed and evolved.

However, the business, along with its new owners, Ben Bernard and Kelly O’Farrell, was focused on the future.

Annette and David Lade (fourth and third from right), Ben Bernard and Kelly O'Farrell (fourth and fifth from left) and the Sauers Produce and Garden Centre staff.

The biggest pleasure of their time in the business was to help their customers leave satisfied even if they didn’t buy anything, Mr Lade said.

With lots of new people coming to town, it was lovely to see new faces coming in, he said.

The mantra for their staff was “if the customer leaves happy, that’s all that matters”.

A great thrill was to see their staff move on and upwards and be successful in their new jobs and new life.

The Lades are now looking forward to spending time with their grandchildren, travelling and catching up on life outside of the business world as they enter their retirement.