G'Day UK 2009

With events and promotions planned in-store throughout the month of June, G'dayUK aims to bring 'Down Under up here' at Selfridges' flagship store on Oxford Street, London.

The iconic retailer will be hosting a number of Australian-themed G'dayUK activities to help raise the profile of Australian food & wine. Visitors to Selfridges’ Wonderbar will have the opportunity to sample premium Australian wines through the bar’s innovative enomatic machines which offer a wide range of wines by the glass. Dawn Davies, Selfridges Wine Buyer, will also be adding a touch of ‘Down Under’ to the store’s wine shop using themed displays and VIP wine tastings with well-known wine personalities.

For shoppers looking for a bite to eat, Michelin-starred chefs Shane Osborn & Brett Graham will be creating an Australian-themed food & wine menu exclusively for the Selfridges Gallery Restaurant using produce that will be available in the Selfridges Food Hall to purchase. There will also be exclusive promotions and sampling opportunities on selected Australian produce within the Food Hall giving customers even more reason to ‘Go Australian’.

“We’re thrilled to be working with a retailer like Selfridges to bring a taste of Australia to one of the most iconic high streets in the world. Working with talent like Shane Osborn and Brett Graham as well as the many innovative products Australia supplies, Selfridges customers, through the team at The Gallery Restaurant, can touch, taste and smell a little bit of Australia without leaving their own back yard.” says Australia’s Senior Trade Commissioner, Kylie Hargreaves, based in London.

Planned for 24 June – 30 June 2009, G’dayUK is a week-long, vibrant celebration of uniquely Australian products, people, places, businesses, skills and attitude and is part of a broader strategy by Australia to continue to develop its relations across the world.

For further information please visit www.gday-uk.co.uk and www.selfridges.com
Ann Burton, CUBE Communications; Tel: 020 8401 5506 Email: ann@gday-uk.co.uk
20 April 2009

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Notes to editors:

About G’dayUK
G’dayUK 2009 is supported by the New South Wales, Queensland, Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian State Governments, Austrade, Qantas and Tourism Australia in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wine Australia, Australian Business and key private sector sponsors.

About Selfridges
Selfridges is 100 years old in 2009. The actual birthday was on 15 March and the main centenary celebrations are planned for the month of May.

• The business was founded by American entrepreneur Gordon Selfridge in 1909 and run by him until he retired in 1940 and took on the role of President. Gordon Selfridge died in 1947. Four years later the business was sold to Lewis’ of Liverpool for £3.4 million.
• In 1965 Charles Clore’s British Shoe Corporation won control of Selfridges in take-over for £63 million. New developments included the opening of Miss Selfridge.
• In 1998 the company was de-merged from the Sears Group and floated on the London Stock Exchange.
• In 2003 Galen Weston purchased Selfridges. He and his wife Hilary are closely involved with the development and growth of the company and their daughter Alannah is Creative Director.
• In the year ended 31 January 2008, Selfridges’ sales rose by 10 per cent to £655 million and profit grew by 30 per cent to £84.1 million.
• Galen Weston is Chairman of Selfridges and, in January 2004, Allan Leighton was appointed Deputy Chairman.
• Paul Kelly became Chief Executive of Selfridges in February 2004. Before that, Paul was Managing Director of Brown Thomas in Dublin for ten years. He has worked with the Weston family for over 20 years.
• Galen Weston is Chairman of the premier luxury goods company which, as well as Selfridges, includes Holt Renfrew in Canada and Brown Thomas in Ireland.