Drakes Supermarkets
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    Drakes Supermarkets
    (114 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Drakes Supermarkets

    2.8114 ratings in total
    5
    21
    4
    22
    3
    18
    2
    23
    1
    30
    70%
    Rate salary as high or average
    47%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.1(112 ratings)
    Career development
    2.8(113 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.4(112 ratings)
    Management
    2.7(113 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.0(113 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.0(112 ratings)
    Ratings for Drakes Supermarkets are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    3.0
    Assistant
    Apr 2026
    Adelaide SA 50003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Met some of my best of friends from here and worked with some great people,
    The good thingsMade some really good friends and was fun and busy work
    The challengesThe wage cut fully decreased the amount of shifts I was getting which was frustrating but I had a great department with some really lovely people. Just time to move on to something else.
    2.0
    Customer Service Assistant
    Apr 2026
    North Haven SA 50181 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Inconsistent with their communication skills
    The good thingsThe store gets busy sometimes, as I enjoy a balanced work environment from busy to quiet. It is easy to communicate with managers, but they won't listen on the first try, meaning you'll have to give them a while in advance.
    The challengesThe managers need to improve on their communication skills and rostering, in my experience they have overstaffed quiet times, and understaffed busy times. They have trouble accommodating for autism, unlike other stores who have "quiet hours" and dimmed lights from time to time.
    5.0
    Manager
    Mar 2026
    Ipswich QLD 43055 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Good to work in family business. Always look after people. U feel like u r a person not a number
    The good thingsI worked in cooperative business before I joined in drakes. I realized I am a number in that company. No career growth. After I quit there and came joined in drakes. I am going far in my career. They treat to you are valuable person
    The challengesNothing in my journey with drakes. Got my feedbacks always where I need to improve. Help you always when u r down
    5.0
    Casual store assistant
    Mar 2026
    Torrensville SA 50316 to 7 years in the role, former employee
    Made me who I am today.
    The good thingsThe life long friends I formed over the years and the flexible work hours that enable me to complete my university degree and great mentors as my managers.
    The challengesNot too much that comes to mind. My experience was nothing but positive.
    1.0
    Delicatessen Manager
    Mar 2026
    Adelaide SA 50007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Expectations vs Reality
    The good thingsSome great co-workers
    The challengesWage budget cuts. Couldn't no longer achieve the high level of work myself and my team could deliver and prided ourselves on. Department Supervisors and Store Managers expecting the same performance of 3-4 staff from 1 staff member. Job satisfaction decreased, stress levels raised. Unhappy overworked staff, constantly complaining there were no shifts and when they're rostered on, theyre heavily overworked and under appreciated. You cut the wages that significantly, you can expect to cut the standards. Where do you compromise? A full deli? A clean deli? Timely customer service? Good presentation? Good work culture? When I shop there now, the standards are not there, wait times are long, staff look stressed and doing their best :(
    2.0
    Department Manager
    Feb 2026
    Torrensville SA 503112 to 13 years in the role, former employee
    Decent place if you enjoy being underpaid, overworked and don't care how you're treated.
    The good thingsMet some great people, sometimes you get lucky with decent management.
    The challenges'Opportunities' to advance your career are generally greeted with a massive increase in workload without a budget to support new staff or proper training. Pay is garbage, frequently told that other companies with similar roles are earning far more with less stress. Upper management are mostly disrespectful to the average staff member, unless you're giving this company your blood, you're a number to them. Don't be fooled by the majority of 5-star reviews, we were told via email as staff to get on here and bump the reviews up to help the company. Incredibly toxic head office environment, several execs are not friendly, nor do they have respect for you or your time and effort. I saw staff on the shop floor and at the head office level in tears every other day. That being said, the CEO is a fantastic person and genuinely cares for his business and staff, unfortunately the same can't be said for those down the ladder. Proceed with caution if you're looking for full time employment.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Service Deli Manager
    Jan 2026
    All Adelaide SA19 to 20 years in the role, former employee
    It was great, until it wasn't
    The good thingsLoved the job itself, and for the most part co-workers.
    The challengesSupervisors with double standards, upper management making way too many changes at once, increasing workload and pressure, no budget to pay for staff and not much accountability from anyone else as to what needs to be done, accepting poor work ethic from lower down and higher up staff, and the middle management cop it all. Culture of drama and favoritism within the company. Unreasonable targets for bonuses.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Retail Customer Service Representative
    Jul 2025
    All Adelaide SA1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Don't do it, unless your desperate
    The good thingsYou might get luck and have a good store manager. Some higher up's are nice. Meet lots of good people.
    The challengesGet asked to train someone for 30 mins (in my contract and my law meant to be paid the full 3 hours) only got paid 30 mins and told me its "part of the job." They will do this as often as they can. Terrible pay rates especially if your not living at home. Give certain people travel compensation even if others are travelling further. Even had managers admit you have to be mean or an a** to get somewhere in the company.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Storeperson
    Jun 2025
    Edinburgh SA 5111Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Consider this before starting at Brave DistributionDrakes isn't a terrible place to work if you crave competition for very little reward or recognition and hidden punishments. Terrible pay per hour for work expected. On-site gym that you can only use once you're a FT employee and only during work hours, after you've finished work. FREE LUNCH! the canteen ladies were fantastic, good prices for food and drink too. Don't make too many friends because there's almost a 100% turnover of staff. Freezer sucks. Outdated technology considering its competition and they're wasting soo much money on unnecessary equipment and staff, either breaking down or double-triple handling everything. SOM is a great actor, don't be fooled. Only seems to be a couple TLs that really care. Goodluck
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Store Manager
    Apr 2025
    Rosewood QLD 43406 to 7 years in the role, current employee
    Amazing work place opens the door for dream career opportunities
    The good thingsWork life balance and culture
    The challengesI didn’t face any challenges as there process is very smooth and the team is very encouraging
    5.0
    Store Manager
    Apr 2025
    Rangeville QLD 435026 to 27 years in the role, current employee
    I am loyal to Drakes as they have earnt it over the years. I have never regretted working here.
    The good thingsFriendly and professional environment
    The challengesI work long hours and some people dont like to work during times when others are on holidays...we need to be on deck especially in those times.
    5.0
    Customer Service Area Supervisor
    Apr 2025
    Rochedale QLD 412315 to 16 years in the role, current employee
    Not just a number you're part of a family.
    The good thingsLots of opportunities to progress through the business. The people are great. You don't feel like a number more part of a family.
    The challengesEvery day is different, have to be able to cope well with pressure and be adaptable.
    5.0
    Order Picker
    Mar 2025
    Edinburgh SA 51115 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Brave warehouse-Great place to work if you are honest and reliable. Everything on the system so if you are a time waster and unreliable then don’t bother applying. Plenty of opportunities for the good ones
    The good thingsIf you are honest and reliable then it’s a great place to work and you get more opportunities. If you are dishonest and time waster then don’t bother
    The challengesPay rate is lower but more opportunities are available
    2.0
    Team Member
    Mar 2025
    Elizabeth Park SA 51131 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Really disappointing
    The good thingsI actually really enjoyed the work, I've had years of experience so it was easy
    The challengesI would be rostered on to work and they would cancel it the night before constantly. I only worked 3 shifts and then was taken off the roster and removed from their group chat. Not sure what I did wrong as I was never told why or sorry we don't need you anymore, yet they are advertising again
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Order Picker
    Mar 2025
    Edinburgh SA 51113 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Dreadful, take the cert 3 and run for your life.
    The good thingsTeam leaders are good
    The challengesUpper management turns a blind eye to safety, churn and burn through employees. Different departments are not treated equally. Happy to have one person carry a whole zone while everyone else does nothing.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Deli Assistant
    Feb 2025
    All Adelaide SA1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Having worked in similar environments and performed nearly the same job, this has by far been the worst experience.
    The good thingsMy colleagues were great, and it can be a good job for high school students due to its flexibility.
    The challengesthe main issues were lack of proper training, understaffing, unrealistic workload, and insufficient hours for employees. Additionally, the deli department had an inadequate budget, making the workload excessive for a supermarket job.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Delicatessen Manager
    Jan 2025
    Bundaberg & Wide Bay Burnett QLDLess than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Don't do it.
    The good thingsFixed hours for supervisors Casuals were available when needed
    The challengesLack of assistance from upper management. Do not go to them if you think you would get a resolve to your problem. You will get thrown under the bus,, especially if you were an external hire and not internal. Management is always in a mess. Store was always a shitshow.
    4 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Grocery Assistant
    Oct 2024
    All Adelaide SA
    Worked a long time at Drakes. Made some good friends, but after about 7 years things started to change. Witnessed favouritism, chauvinism and even managers breaking trust when confiding in them privately. Came to a point of quantity of inexperienced young staff over quality older staff. Eventually they cut your shifts back to nothing and keep you employed for nearly a year without offering shifts only to suddenly cut you off without a word. Not even a thank you for all your years of service.
    The good thingsMade friends over the years. Had a couple good managers We're understanding when couldn't work. Might’ve been a different story if not a casual.
    The challengesNone. Job was easy, only specific management were too hard to please.
    1.0
    Bakery
    Sep 2024
    Adelaide SA 5000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Just don't do it. Supermarket Retail is not worth losing your sanity over.
    The good thingsThey will consider how far you will travel. Whether they act on it however...
    The challengesNearly everything. As a manager you'll be lucky to not do overtime, targets are generally unreachable, and theres a clear split between what management from Head Office want you to do, and the management on the ground in your store. I was constantly in battle with different managers, caught in the middle, not communicated with about changes, and had my own team threatened with demotions and I was not told. You'll have all the responsibility, but absolutely no control.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Deli Assistant
    Jul 2024
    Adelaide SA 5000
    Great place to work casually in high school or amongst 1-2 other casual jobs but not enough work going for adults who want hours
    The good thingsPay is very good for the position offered. Seems too good to be true (and is)
    The challengesStores have an extremely high turnover rate, management is often chaotic and I personally had to contend with 4 new managers over my first year and a half: making the training and onboarding process a nightmare. There's constant ads playing over the PA about how "we're a small family company who cares about you and your family" and trying to market themselves as some sort of mom-and-pop local establishment when the reality is they're a massive corporate enterprise and it feels very dystopian in a way that's difficult to describe. Also don't expect to get any shifts. The managers will try their absolute hardest to have the place full time staffed by teenagers so they can keep wages down and then will have the audacity to complain when they get the exact standard of work they're willing to pay for
    5 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Grocery Assistant
    May 2024
    Adelaide SA 50005 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Great if you want to be a cog in the machine, I guess
    The good thingsCoworkers and managers are good, and the money is pretty good for how simple the work is
    The challengesThe work is extremely dull, and hours aren’t good for casuals. Also they play the same music every single day which gets old very quick.
    1.0
    Fruit and Vegetable Assistant
    Jan 2024
    Gawler SA 51183 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    The place is toxic environment. Management is so poor treat people different. Can’t keep workers.
    The good thingsThere are no good things about working at Drakes Supermarket.
    The challengestoxic people / environment
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Information Technology Role
    Jan 2024
    Adelaide SA 50005 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Navigating Challenges and Toxic Culture
    The good thingsThe team members at Drakes were generally supportive and collaborative. The positive interactions with colleagues were a silver lining in an otherwise challenging environment.
    The challengesMy experience with the company revealed a toxic work culture. Instances of micro-management, lack of empathy and support were observed frequently, impacting the overall morale of the team. There seemed to be a lack of transparent communication from higher management, leading to confusion among employees. Balancing work and personal life was a consistent challenge. The demanding workload and tight and ever changing priorities and deadlines made it difficult to achieve a healthy work-life balance. It's essential for potential employees to carefully consider the work environment and culture at Drakes. While there are positive aspects, the challenges mentioned may impact your overall experience. If work-life balance and a positive workplace culture are important to you, it's advisable to thoroughly research and perhaps seek feedback from current or former employees.
    12 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Customer Service Assistant
    Oct 2023
    Calliope QLD 4680
    good, could be better. stress fest.
    The good thingsMajority of Co-workers, majority of customers, management, discount, individuality, pay for my age.
    The challengesgetting bombarded with shifts, I know for others this may be a positive but when your still in Highschool and would like to have free time it is insane! Especially when its your first job. I was on for at least 6 hours both days every weekend making it impossible to make plans. I was also on a lot after school making a fun school day into a stress fest. Calling in sick was also very hard as you had to hope to get the laid-back supervisors otherwise you were in for a hard time when your actually vomiting.
    1.0
    Retail Sales Assistant
    Apr 2023
    Gladstone & Central QLD
    You would be wasting your time and energy working for this company, as you get little to no reward for the work you do. You had to be a family member or friend to get anywhere.
    The good thingsInteraction with customers
    The challengesToxic environment. Making money was number one - at any cost. Good behaviour not acknowledged. Poor behaviour was rewarded. Working with limited to no staff especially during busy times. Juniors were employed over seniors. Not an Equal Opportunity employer. No work/life balance.
    6 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Deli Assistant
    Mar 2023
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    co-workers are good to work with however the small amount of hours for juniors is not enough.
    The good thingsThe working environment Co-workers
    The challengesstruggle to work enough hours for junior workers
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Management
    Sep 2022
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    Great way to grow in my career!
    The good thingsGreat company to work for, so much career progression and new challenges! People are friendly and supportive!
    The challengesLeaving the business was a really hard decision!
    4.0
    Cashier Supervisor
    Sep 2022
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    I had an enjoyable time and loved working with my team.
    The good thingsThe people I worked with were really great and there was good opportunities to progress. Team always worked well together.
    The challengesCustomers could be rude at times. Work facilities could have been better as well.
    5.0
    IT Solutions
    Sep 2022
    current employee
    Love going to work everyday!
    The good thingsAmazing place to work. Incredible people that love working for Drakes. Opportunities are everywhere for anyone that are interested in career progression.
    The challengesWe are growing so fast, hang on tight :)
    5.0
    Head Office Team Member
    Sep 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    A consistently exciting and positive work environment make it an enjoyable place to work.
    The good thingsFantastic opportunities coupled with genuinely understanding and encouraging leadership.
    The challengesBeing surrounded by so many fantastic edible treats throughout the store.
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.
    Reviews by location
    All Adelaide SAAll Brisbane QLDBundaberg & Wide Bay Burnett QLDGladstone & Central QLDToowoomba & Darling Downs QLD