The original Costa fruit shop was established in 1888 by the grand-uncle of the present owners. It was this shop that provided the base from which the current business was to grow and prosper, throughout Australasia.In 1926, Tony Costa, aged 16, migrated to Australia and started selling fresh produce to the people of Geelong. By 1938, Tony had assumed total control of the family business, Geelong Covent Gardens, and continued to develop it into a successful retail fruit shop, which is still in operation today. Tony’s sons followed their father into the fresh fruit and vegetable industry during the 1950’s, opening their own retail outlets and wholesale operations by supplying local providors and smaller green grocers. Adapting to change in the industry has always been part of the Costa culture, so when supermarket chains were established in the 1960’s, the Costa brothers began to supply the supermarkets - direct deliveries to store as well as liaising between suppliers and the warehouse. This move created the basis for today’s business. The five Costa brothers - Frank, Adrian, Anthony, Kevin and Robert - took the business from strength to strength, expanding into prepacking, shipping and metropolitan produce supply. The business soon encompassed all of Western Victoria, and in the seventies, opportunities were presented across the state and throughout mainland Australia. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's the Costa Group's passion to support the continued growth and success of their local and international customers enabled them to grow into one of Australia’s largest wholesalers and exporters of fresh produce. In addition to this, their willingness to invest in new technology and 'sense of urgency' regarding exceeding their customer's demands have placed the Costa Group as industry leaders in perishable logistics and supply chain initiatives. In July 2004, Simon J. Costa became the first member of the family's third generation to be appointed to the leadership position of the Costa Group of Companies. Along with a strong team of family members and experienced senior business managers, the determination to succeed and absolute belief in the value of staff and customers is even stronger today than when the doors for business were first opened more than 100 years ago. The Costa Group remains a fully owned and operated family business. | 
