South Australia’s top 100 companies: The full list for 2021
Today we reveal the top 20 companies in InDaily’s South Australian Business Index – our annual review of the top private and public companies in the state – and the winners of the four awards categories.
InDaily’s ranking of the state’s top 100 companies by market capitalisation and revenue covers the 2020-21 financial year.
The list, compiled for InDaily by Adelaide financial services firm Taylor Collison, is the state’s most definitive guide to our top companies (scroll to the bottom of the page for eligibility criteria).
The countdown finishes today with the full list, including the top 20 – which features some newcomers.
We also unveil the winners of the individual awards.
The Rising Star Award is presented to Core Lithium, which jumped a huge 70 places from 86 last year to No. 16 in 2021.
The company’s massive rise comes on the back of the approval of its Finniss lithium mine and processing plant in the Northern Territory after signing a contract with a key supplier to electric carmaker Tesla.
Construction of the project is expected to begin this month following a $116 million capital raise earlier this year, which has helped increase the Adelaide-based company’s market capitalisation at the end of September to more than $600 million.
The Best New Entrant Award was presented to business software company CAMMS, which debuted at No. 51 on the list this year.
Founded by current executive director Joe Collins in 1996, the Adelaide headquartered company now has offices across eight locations including New York, London, Manchester, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and a Global Service Delivery Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
CAMMS specialises in integrated software solutions for risk, strategy, and project management and grew its revenue by 24 per cent to $19.578 million in 2020-21.
SA miner Oz Minerals won the Revenue Growth category after increasing its income by more than $700 million in 2020-21 on the back of strong copper and gold prices and increased production at its new Carrapateena mine in the state’s far north.
The Standout Large Employer Award was won by Peregrine Corporation, the operator of the state’s network of On the Run service stations.
Established in 1984 when Fred Shahin purchased a small BP service station in Woodville Park, Peregrine is now the largest private company in SA with revenues approaching $3 billion in 2020-21. It has more than 3000 employees across about 150 OTR sites in the state.
100. Sparc Technologies
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Sparc Technologies Ltd develops innovative graphene-based technology solutions.
99. Vintage Energy
Sector: Energy | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 97
Vintage Energy is an oil and gas exploration and energy company.
98. Mannix Electrical
Sector: Electrical | Revenue: $46.7m | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Mannix Electrical Pty Ltd is an electrical contracting business that specialises in air conditioning, home heating and solar.
97. GPA Engineering
Sector: Engineering | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 75
GPA Engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering and management firm.
96. Hillgrove Resources
Sector: Mining | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Hillgrove Resources Limited is an Australian mining and resources company primarily focused on the development of the Kanmantoo Copper mine.
95. Escient
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: $24.5m | Last Year’s Ranking: 90
Escient is an employee-owned digital and business advisory firm.
94. Kennett
Sector: Building and Construction | Revenue: $100 million | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Kennett’s is a family-owned company that delivers major commercial construction projects.
93. A Noble & Son
Sector: Other | Revenue: $44.9m | Last Year’s Ranking: 79
Noble’s provides lifting and rigging equipment, technical services and engineering design.
92. Finsbury Green
Sector: Printing | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 82
Finsbury Green is a print, managed services and logistics company based in Adelaide.
91. Fyfe
Sector: Engineering | Revenue: $52 million | Last Year’s Ranking: 84
Fyfe is a land, resource and infrastructure development consultancy specialising in engineering, environmental, planning and surveying services for a variety of industries.
90. Robern Menz
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 91
Robern Menz is a confectioner with products including FruChocs and Violet Crumble.
89. Havilah Resources
Sector: Mining | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 78
Havilah Resources engages in the exploration of gold, base metals, and other mineral deposits in Australia.
88. RJE Global
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $83 million | Last Year’s Ranking: 52
Established in 1996, RJE provides multi-disciplinary engineering and construction services to complex projects across a range of industries.
87. Matthews Hotels
Sector: Hospitality | Revenue: $56 million | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Matthews Hotels is a hospitality company that owns and operates a range of hotels in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla.
86. Angove Family Winemakers
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 73
Founded in 1886, Angove Family Winemakers is a 5th generation, family-owned winery that produces premium South Australian wines, mainly from the McLaren Vale region.
85. L H Perry & Sons
Sector: Energy | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 72
LH Perry & Sons is a family-owned fuel distribution company, founded in 1949.
84. Mossop Group
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $150.2m | Last Year’s Ranking: 87
Mossop is a construction and interiors company working on commercial, education, health, hospitality and residential projects.
83. Nova Eye Medical
Sector: Healthcare | Revenue: $13.3m | Last Year’s Ranking: 85
You might like
Nova Eye Medical develops novel glaucoma treatment technologies.
82. Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers*
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 69
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers manages hardwood and softwood forestry plantations on Kangaroo Island.
*KIPT has changed its name to Kiland since this list was originally published
81. Peter Cochrane Management (Cochrane’s Transport)
Sector: Infrastructure and transportation | Revenue: $60.7m | Last Year’s Ranking: 80
Cochrane’s is an express logistics business, servicing South Australia, Mildura and Broken Hill.
8o. Knoll Consultants & Investments
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Knoll Consultants & Investments are a specialist food store business, primarily owning and operating Barossa Fine Foods and its brands, including The Cheesemonger, Angelakis Bros, Standom Smallgoods and Schulz Butchers.
79. Korvest
Sector: Infrastructure and Transportation | Revenue: $69.7m | Last Year’s Ranking: 76
Korvest is a supplier of cable and pipe supports, industrial access and safety systems, fastening solutions and galvanising services.
78. Buddy Technologies
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: $28.7m | Last Year’s Ranking: 43
Buddy Technologies Limited produces data aggregation, management and control platforms for the internet of things and connected devices.
77. Aerometrex .
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: $20.9m | Last Year’s Ranking: 50
Aerometrex provides high-resolution spacial data products and services using aerial mapping technology.
76. Beston Global Food Company
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: $112.4m | Last Year’s Ranking: 54
Beston Global Food Company Limited exports a range of food products, focusing on dairy and meat.
75. Terramin Australia
Sector: Mining | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 59
Terramin is a base and precious metal development company with advanced zinc and gold projects in South Australia and Algeria.
74. A.E. Haigh (Haigh’s Chocolates)
Sector: Food and Beverage | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 71
Haigh’s Chocolates creates Australian-made chocolates in Adelaide.
73. Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec
Sector: Professional services | Revenue: Undisclosed| Last Year’s Ranking: 70
Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec is an engineering and project management firm offering consulting services, including structural, civil, maritime, mechanical, geotechnical, heavy lifting, temporary works, project management, electrical and pressure vessels.
72. Duxton Broadacre Farms
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: $17.8m | Last Year’s Ranking: 81
Duxton Broadacre Farms offers investors a diversified portfolio of Australian farms.
71. Outside Ideas
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $74.5m | Last Year’s Ranking: 68
Outside Ideas is a large-scale landscaping works, civil construction, structural concreting, and maintenance provider.
70. Racing SA
Sector: Thoroughbred racing | Revenue: $83.5m | Last Year’s Ranking: unranked
Racing SA is the controlling body for horse racing in South Australia.
69. Weeks Group
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 65
Weeks Group is a residential builder in South Australia and Victoria.
68. Arrowcrest Group
Sector: Automotive | Revenue: $163.8m | Last Year’s Ranking: 64
Arrowcrest is the parent company of automotive and farming machinery companies ROH Wheels, John Shearer, Unicast, Tristar, NonFerral, Kockums Industries and Brownbuilt.
67. Leigh Creek Energy
Sector: Energy | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 66
Leigh Creek Energy Limited is developing a coal gasification project, the Leigh Creek Energy Project, located 550km north of Adelaide.
66. Maughan Thiem Automotive
Sector: Automotive | Revenue: $219.5m | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Maughan Theim Automotive is an automotive motor vehicle company which runs a variety of dealerships in South Australia.
65. Clean Seas Seafood
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: $48.5m | Last Year’s Ranking: 67
Clean Seas is a commercial producer of kingfish and a pioneer in the country’s emerging aquaculture industry.
64. Venross
Sector: Retail | Revenue: $96m | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Venross operate as a retail and entertainment wholesaler, VR Distribution, selling merchandise including board and card games and collectibles.
63. Custom Agency Services
Sector: Infrastructure and transportation | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 77
Customs Agency Services is an international freight forwarding and customs brokerage organisation.
62. Independent Pub Group Holdings (GM Hotels)
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: $84m | Last Year’s Ranking: 62
Independent Pub Group Holdings operates licensed hotels and retail liquor outlets in South Australia.
61. Tic:Toc
Sector: Financial technology | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: unranked
Tic:Toc is a finance technology company that launched in 2017 to provide cheaper home loans using proprietary technology.
60. Guidera O’Connor
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $84m | Last Year’s Ranking: 58
Guidera O’Connor provides design and construction services to the Australian water industry.
59. Woods Bagot
Sector: Professional services | Revenue: Undisclosed| Last Year’s Ranking: 53
Woods Bagot is a global architecture, design and consultancy firm, based in Adelaide.
58. Galipo Food Co
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: $147m | Last Year’s Ranking: 55
Galipo Foods is a large-scale supplier to the foodservice industry.
57. SAGE Group Holdings
Sector: Professional services | Revenue: $125m | Last Year’s Ranking: 57
SAGE Group Holdings provides electrical engineering and automation services in Australia.
56. Zerella Holdings
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: $100m | Last Year’s Ranking: 49
Based in Virginia, Zerella is a major Australian supplier of potatoes, carrots and onions.
55. The Hickinbotham Group
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 51
Hickinbotham is a major residential developer, building homes in and around Adelaide.
54. Rex Minerals
Sector: Mining | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 83
Rex Minerals Limited is a mineral exploration and development company.
53. Maggie Beer Holdings
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: $52.8m | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Maggie Beer Holdings represent four brands of gifting, food and beverage products using Australian ingredients and materials that support local dairy farmers, fruit and vegetable growers.
52. Camms
Sector: Information technology | Revenue: $19.5m | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Camms offer business software with integrated solutions for projects and strategy to help clients manage risk and optimise organisations.
51. Thomson Geer
Sector: Professional services | Revenue: $185m | Last Year’s Ranking: 46
Thomson Geer is a large corporate law firm with 560 staff in offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
50. Micro-X
Sector: Healthcare | Revenue: $3.7m | Last Year’s Ranking: 60
Micro-X produces, designs, develops and manufactures a range of ultra-lightweight, mobile x-ray imaging systems for medical and security applications.
49. Lucas Total Contract Solutions
Sector: Civil construction/mining | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 42
Lucas TCS is a privately-owned civil engineering and construction company, founded over 50 years ago which has worked with some of Australia’s leading mining and resource organisations.
48. Bionomics
Sector: Biotechnology | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 63
Bionomics is a biopharmaceutical company involved in the development of treatments for central nervous system disorders such as anxiety, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
47. Duxton Water
Sector: Resources | Revenue: $29.8m | Last Year’s Ranking: 41
Duxton Water Limited is a South Australian investment firm with water entitlements in the Southern Murray Darling Basin.
46. Australian Vintage Limited
Sector: Food and Beverage | Revenue: $274m | Last Year’s Ranking: 48
Australian Vintage Limited is a leading Australian wine company with a fully-integrated wine business model including vineyards, boutique and bulk wine production, packaging, marketing and distribution.
45. Alice Car Centre (Peter Kittle)
Sector: Automotive | Revenue: $406.8m | Last Year’s Ranking: 45
Alice Car Centre is an entity of the Peter Kittle Motor Company, which runs a series of automotive dealerships.
44. AJ & PA McBride
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: $39.7m | Last Year’s Ranking: 39
The sixth-generation family-owned company has a diverse range of agricultural assets and is one of Australia’s biggest wool producers.
43. Elixir Energy
Sector: Energy | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Elixir Energy is a gas exploration and development company focused on exploring Mongolia for natural gas.
42. Samuel Smith & Son
Sector: Food and Beverage | Revenue: $313m | Last Year’s Ranking: 38
Samuel Smith & Son is a family-owned wine merchant established in 1923, servicing the Australian liquor industry with a portfolio of national and international wines, spirits and premium ales.
41. Silk Laser Australia
Stay informed, daily
Sector: Other | Revenue: $58.9m | Last Year’s Ranking: 56
Silk began with one clinic in South Australia offering a range of cosmetic services, and now has locations across the country.
40. Badge Group Holdings
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $347m | Last Year’s Ranking: 35
Badge is a privately-owned construction group delivering commercial projects across Australia from offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Maroochydore and Perth.
39. Almondco Australia
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 33
Almondco Australia supplies premium quality almond products to the world.
38. Renascor Resources
Sector: Energy | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked
Renascor Resources explore, develop and evaluate mineral properties in Australia.
37. Detmold Holdings
Sector: Packaging | Revenue: $544m | Last Year’s Ranking: 36
The Detmold Group is a manufacturer of paper and board-based packaging products for a diverse range of customers.
36. Ahrens Group
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $460m | Last Year’s Ranking: 28
Ahrens Group is a construction, engineering and mining services company, delivering a range of project services from design, steel fabrication and procurement through to construction and project delivery.
35. MGA and Whittles Group of Companies
Sector: Financial | Revenue: $133m | Last Year’s Ranking: 31
The group provides risk advice and general insurance broking.
34. McMahon Services
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $470.3m | Last Year’s Ranking: 40
McMahon Services is a privately-owned industrial, construction and environmental services provider established in 1990.
33. Nova Aerospace (Nova Group)
Sector: Professional services | Revenue: $300m | Last Year’s Ranking: 34
Nova Group is the umbrella entity for a series of professional services firms operating in the areas of defence, aerospace, mapping, energy and utilities, software, communications and transportation.
32. ResourceCo
Sector: Waste Disposal | Revenue: $245m | Last Year’s Ranking: 30
Founded in 1993, the waste services company provides recycling, soil and waste management services, and produces alternative fuels.
31. Michell Group of Companies
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 29
Since 1870, the family business has processed wool and traded it across the globe.
30. Leader Computers
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: $479m | Last Year’s Ranking: 37
Leader Computers Pty Ltd is a manufacturer and distributor of information communications technology products.
29. Clearlight Investments (San Remo)
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: $336m | Last Year’s Ranking: 26
Clearlight Investments Pty Ltd, trading as pasta company San Remo, has a manufacturing facility in Adelaide and offices and distribution centres in all main capital cities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
28. Community CPS Australia (Beyond Bank)
Sector: Financials | Revenue: Undisclosed| Last Year’s Ranking: 32
A fully customer-owned bank, bringing together a number financial organisations that provide banking services, community investments, grants and sponsorships.
27. Alcidion Group
Sector: Health Care | Revenue: $25.8m | Last Year’s Ranking: 47
Alcidion Group Limited is a health informatics company providing clinicians with decision support tools.
26. Andromeda Metals
Sector: Mining | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 27
Andromeda explores for halloysite, gold and copper deposits. Its primary target is the Great White Kaolin project located near Poochera on the Eyre Peninsula
25. Doneilyn (Sarah Group)
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $520m | Last Year’s Ranking: 25
Doneilyn Pty Ltd, trading as Sarah Group, is a locally-owned private company that derives its revenue from the provision of construction services.
24. Australian Central Credit Union (People’s Choice)
Sector: Financials | Revenue: $262m | Last Year’s Ranking: 24
People’s Choice is one of Australia’s largest credit unions with members and branches across Australia.
23. Drakes Supermarkets
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 23
Drakes Supermarkets is the largest independent grocery retailer in Australia
22. Coopers Brewery
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: $280m | Last Year’s Ranking: 22
Established in 1862, Coopers is the sole major brewer 100 per cent owned by Australians, claiming about 5% of the Australian beer market.
21. Cooper Energy
Sector: Energy | Revenue: $131.6m| Last Year’s Ranking: 17
Cooper Energy is an energy company that discovers, develops and commercialises oil and gas in Australia.
20. Royal Automobile Association of South Australia
Sector: Automotive | Revenue: $516m | Last Year’s Ranking: 19
The RAA, established in 1903 to serve the motoring-related needs of South Australians, provides insurance, security, travel, finance, motoring and road safety products and services.
19. Mayne Pharma Group
Sector: Healthcare | Revenue: $400m | Last Year’s Ranking: 18
Mayne Pharma Group is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on applying its drug delivery expertise to commercialise branded and generic pharmaceuticals.
18. Kilbirnie Investments (CMV Group)
Sector: Automotive | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 16
Kilbirnie Investments has a series of automotive dealerships and horticulture assets, predominantly in South Australia and Victoria.
17. Strike Energy
Sector: Energy | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 21
Strike is an oil and gas exploration company with assets in South Australia’s Cooper Basin and Western Australia’s Perth Basin.
16. Core Lithium
Sector: Mining | Revenue: Not meaningful | Last Year’s Ranking: 86
Core Lithium Ltd a lithium-focused exploration and mining company.
15. Discovery Parks Holdings (G’Day Group)
Sector: Travel and accommodation | Revenue: $207m | Last Year’s Ranking: 14
The G’day Group is Australia’s largest regional accommodation provider with 280+ properties across Australia, including 60+ owned and managed holiday parks. With a head office in Adelaide, the company recently added Hahndorf Resort and McCracken Country Club to their SA portfolio.
14. Thomas Foods International
Sector: Food and beverage | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 13
Thomas Foods International is Australia’s largest 100 per cent family-owned meat-processing company.
13. Adelaide Airport Limited
Sector: Infrastructure and transportation | Revenue: $115m | Last Year’s Ranking: 11
Adelaide Airport is the fourth-largest domestic airport and sixth-largest international airport in Australia, processing more than 7.7 million passengers annually. Parafield Airport is South Australia’s premier general aviation airport and is a major world-standard international training airport.
12. Land Services SA
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: Undisclosed | Last Year’s Ranking: 10
In 2017, Land Services SA was appointed as the exclusive provider to the State Government for a range of land services and property valuation services, previously provided through the public agencies, the Lands Titles Office and State Valuation Office.
11. Flinders Port Holdings
Sector: Infrastructure and transportation | Revenue: $240m | Last Year’s Ranking: 9
Flinders Port Holdings is a privately-owned port operator with seven ports in South Australia, also offering hydrographic survey services.
10. Elders
Sector: Agriculture | Revenue: $1.7b | Last Year’s Ranking: 11
Elders is an agribusiness company, operating across rural and regional Australia.
9. SeaLink Travel Group*
Sector: Infrastructure and transportation | Revenue: $1.1b | Last Year’s Ranking: 12
SeaLink is a tourism and transport company, operating across Australia, with more than 9000 staff and six million customers annually.
*The company has changed its name to Kelsian Group since the original 2021 list was published.
8. ADBRI (previously Adelaide Brighton)
Sector: Building and construction | Revenue: $1.5b | Last Year’s Ranking: 7
Adbri is a construction materials and lime producer, established in 1882, with approximately 1400 employees and operations in every state and territory in Australia.
7. Codan
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: $437m | Last Year’s Ranking: 6
Codan is an Adelaide-headquartered manufacturer of metal detectors and communications equipment.
6. Uniti Group
Sector: Information technology and equipment | Revenue: $158m | Last Year’s Ranking: 15
Uniti Wireless is a broadband internet provider, servicing homes and businesses across Australia.
5. Peregrine Corporation
Sector: Retail and fuel | Revenue: $2.9b | Last Year’s Ranking: 5
Peregrine Corporation is South Australia’s largest private employer, with over 5000 employees. Over the last 30 years, Peregrine’s operations have grown to include OTR convenience stores, The Bend Motorsport Park, Smokemart Giftbox retail stores and a range of property investments.
4. Beach Energy
Sector: Energy | Revenue: $1.5b | Last Year’s Ranking: 4
Formed in 1961, Beach Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Adelaide. Beach has a core focus on the resource-rich Cooper Basin.
3. Argo Investments
Sector: Financial | Revenue: $187m | Last Year’s Ranking: 2
Established in 1946, Argo is South Australia’s leading listed investment company.
2. Oz Minerals
Sector: Mining | Revenue: $1.7b | Last Year’s Ranking: 3
OZ Minerals is a copper-focused miner based in Adelaide with South Australian copper-gold mines at Prominent Hill and Carrapateena. It was formed in 2008 by the merger of two Australian non-ferrous metals mining businesses – Oxiana and Zinifex.
1. Santos
Sector: Energy | Revenue: $5.1b | Last Year’s Ranking: 1
Santos is a major oil and gas producer, supplying Australian and Asian customers with a portfolio of liquefied natural gas, pipeline gas and oil assets.
Eligibility
Companies owned in part or whole by government, government agencies and organisations, and registered charities are not eligible.
While companies don’t have to nominate to be included in the list, which is based on market capitalisation, local businesses are encouraged to put their names forward.
To be eligible a company must be:
- A South Australian entity with an Adelaide ownership register, or a South Australian operated entity; or
- A company founded and majority-owned by South Australians.
Now in its seventh year, the Index has become a key source of data for those with a keen interest in the South Australian economy and business environment.
This list has been updated following the correction of an error made during data compilation. Andromeda Metals has been added at No.26 and NSW-based Ansarada Group (previously No. 54) has been removed from the list.
