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Date
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Milestone
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September 2001
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5 Ways Foodservice Incorporated
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5 Ways Foodservice was established with a clear purpose—to challenge the status quo in foodservice by consistently delivering 'that little bit more.' This commitment to service, relationships and innovation became the company's defining point of difference.
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September 2001
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First Warehouse – Mark Anthony Drive, Dandenong (900m²)
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Operations commenced from a 900m² warehouse in Dandenong, creating the foundation for future growth.
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September 2001
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ERP System Selected – Pronto
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Pronto ERP was selected from day one because of its scalability and ability to support long-term growth. More than 25 years later, it remains the backbone of the business.
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July 2002
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Warehouse Relocation – Hinkler Road, Mordialloc (3,000m²)
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Rapid growth required a move into a significantly larger facility to support increasing customer demand.
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August 2003
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Joined NAFDA Buying Group
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Joined NAFDA to access national supplier partnerships, collaborative purchasing power and opportunities to compete for national foodservice accounts.
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August 2003
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Acquired Pronto Fresco Foods
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Strengthened international supplier relationships and established import partnerships that continue today.
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October 2003
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Secured National Account – Nando's
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Leveraging NAFDA relationships, 5 Ways secured the national Nando's account, which remains a valued partnership today.
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February 2004
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BRW Fastest Growing Upstart Company in Australia
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Awarded #1 Upstart Company in Australia by Business Review Weekly (BRW), recognising exceptional early growth.
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June 2005
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Acquired Monash Foods
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Strengthened the partnership with Simplot and accelerated market growth, positioning 5 Ways as a leading independent distribution partner.
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September 2008
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Roadnet Transport Management System
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Became one of the first Australian foodservice distributors to deploy Roadnet, introducing advanced route optimisation and real-time delivery management.
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October 2008
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Warehouse Relocation – Quality Drive, Dandenong (10,000m²)
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Moved into a purpose-built 10,000m² distribution centre to support long-term growth and future expansion.
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May 2015
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Joined CFA Buying Group
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Transitioned to CFA to unlock greater supplier opportunities, marketing capability and commercial partnerships.
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June 2015
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Launched 'In The Oven' Loyalty Program
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One of Australia's first independent distributors to operate its own customer loyalty program, now a flagship marketing initiative.
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May 2016
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Quality Drive Warehouse Upgrade
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Optimised the Quality Drive facility to increase storage capacity and operational efficiency.
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June 2016
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Joined Countrywide Buying Group
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Following the CFA merger, joined Australia's largest independent foodservice buying group.
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March 2020
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COVID-19 Accelerates Digital Transformation
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COVID-19 accelerated the company's digital strategy, leading to five major technology platforms delivered within 12 months.
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April 2020
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Launched Fully Integrated eCommerce Platform
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Introduced a fully integrated B2B eCommerce platform with live pricing, personalised catalogues and ERP integration.
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June 2020
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Customer Pricing & Contract Management Platform
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Implemented an end-to-end commercial pricing and contract management solution.
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August 2020
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Integrated Supplier Rebate Management System
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Introduced an automated supplier rebate management platform, improving commercial visibility and supplier partnerships.
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October 2020
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Inventory & Demand Planning Platform
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Implemented advanced forecasting and demand planning technology to optimise inventory and purchasing.
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January 2021
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Customer Engagement Platform
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Launched an industry-leading customer engagement platform to enhance digital communication and amplify the In The Oven loyalty program.
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June 2020
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Tony Lo Tauro Appointed General Manager
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Appointed General Manager as part of the family's succession strategy. Appointed CEO in 2024.
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2024–Today
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Leading Through Innovation
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Continued investment in technology, people and customer partnerships while remaining committed to delivering 'that little bit more.'
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