1987
“The Poultry Shop” is founded by Master Butcher Lenard Poulter in November in Sunnybank, Queensland. Lenard’s second store is opened several weeks later on the Sunshine Coast's Maroochydore.
1988
Lenard’s first franchise opened for trade at Garden City, Brisbane.
1989
Lenard’s branches its wings, going south with an opening in Chatswood, Sydney. Lenard’s Maroochydore Franchisee and ex-McDonalds Franchisee Paul Bardwell joins Lenard as a Director in the company.
1990
With a stronger focus on increasing brand awareness “The Poultry Shop” aptly changed its name to “Lenard’s Poultry Shop”.
1991
Lenard’s first Employee and Franchisee Brian Parsonage becomes a company director.
1993
With the Lenard’s system now 50 franchises strong, Lenard’s divided the Nation into 8 territories and granted their first Master Franchise license for New South Wales to an existing Franchisee.
1995
Now operating Nationally, in 1995 Lenard’s boasted its 100th store.
1996
The name “Lenard’s Poultry Shop” changed to “Lenard’s” to reflect the growth of the organisation's product lines.
1997
10th birthday celebrations kick off with the commencement of the inaugural Foundation Day.
1998
Lenard’s opens it's 150th store.
1999
Lenard’s Ingredients (LING) is developed to profile Lenard's own products, so that Lenard's own the Intellectual Property for our ingredient range.
2000
Diversifying the product range further, Lenard’s introduced a new range of quick and easy meal solutions, easyliving. Leading the meat industry, Lenard’s commitment to providing the highest quality products, initiated the roll-out of a national HACCP campaign.
2001
In February, Lenard’s launched a new chapter in its history with the opening of the first Lenard’s store-in-store in Australia, at Ritchie’s IGA Dromana.
2002
Retail Excellence At Lenard’s (REAL), a new training initiative for Franchisees and their staff commenced with courses in selling skills, customer service and basic business principles. Lenard’s was voted by the Australian Retailers Association as Australian Retailer of the Year 2002.
2003
EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) was introduced as a Management Information System designed to maximise store efficiencies in production, staffing, sales and forecasting. Lenard’s is recognised by the National Retailer Association as Best Franchisor 2003.
2005
Lenard's celebrated its coming of age, by turning 18. Lenard's is recognised by the National Retail Association as Best Food Retailer 2005.
2006
Lenard's first National television advertisement was launched with the "We invent. You cook." theme. The advertisement and associated marketing campaign was rewarded Media Campaign of the Year by the National Retail Association. Lenard's was recognised by the National Retail Association as Best Food Retailer 2006.
2007
Lenard's celebrates it's 20th anniversary! Lenard's releases limited edition Pink Ribbon Cooler Bags to support The Cancer Council. Lenard's first Franchise Owner and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors; Paul Bardwell, and Executive Director of the Board of Directors; Brian Parsonage retire.
2008
Lenard’s signs an Alliance Agreement with major supermarket chain IGA, effectively making it the ‘Sales Agent’ for Lenard’s stores in IGA supermarkets. To further achieve its mission of putting a Lenard’s meal in every home, the company launches a Butcher in-store concept, which allows existing butcheries to take advantage of Lenard’s unique product range. Lenard's hosts its National Conference in Fiji.
2009
Lenard’s launches a ‘grab-and-go’ concept in supermarkets called ‘Lenard’s Express’, which consists of new and existing Lenard’s products pre-packed and ready for convenient purchases. Recognised for the quality of its chicken products, Lenard's partners with Ready Steady Cook as the fresh chicken supplier for the program’s fifth season. Lenard’s launches The Hatchery, an online resource for National Support Office staff and Franchise Owners to easily communicate and engage with one another.
2010
Lenard’s hits 200 store milestone with Lenard’s Hibiscus Shoppingtown in Darwin. Lenard’s teams up with Foodbank, an organisation that collects and distributes food and grocery industry donations to welfare agencies that feed the hungry. To develop store employees into business-savvy, well-equipped retailers, Lenard’s launches national retail and business qualifications. Lenard’s launches its ‘What’s for dinner?’ national branding campaign, which sees Lenard’s products as the solution to Australia’s everyday ‘What’s for dinner?’ dilemma. The brand revolution sees the new ‘Lenard’s: It’s what’s for dinner’ promotional slogan across a diverse range of media, including a return to television.
2011
Lenard’s expands overseas with a major equity interest in The Butcher, a respected Singaporean retail, wholesale and online meat provider that sees Lenard’s branded products sold in Singapore through supermarket operator, Cold Storage, as well as through other The Butcher branded outlets. Lenard’s answers its previous year’s ‘What’s for dinner?’ question with its ‘Clever Chicken’ national marketing campaign, which highlights its quality ready-to-cook products and expert staff as a solution to every household’s daily dinner dilemma. Lenard’s is announced as a finalist in the Excellence in Marketing Award at the 2011 Westpac FCA Excellence in Franchising Awards. Lenard’s launches its Easy Cuts system, which innovates traditional supply and production methods for stores: allowing Franchise Owners to focus on the retail side of the business, the Easy Cuts system revolutionises Lenard’s operational system. Lenard’s hosts its National Conference in Hobart, Tasmania.
