Australian Owned Family Business Since 1939
About Us
Trumps is an Australian Owned Family Business that began operations in 1939. We have grown from a Brisbane banana ripening business to an international wholesaler, distributor & processor of nuts, dried fruits, cooking needs and more.
Trumps prides itself on our rich history of being a successful family-run business that has gone through multiple adversities to become a market leader in our industry. Please see Trumps history below:
Here's Our Journey So Far
Dr Dart Ventures Into Banana Ripening
Dr John Leslie Dart, a Brisbane eye specialist purchased a property on the western side of Mt Cootha. He immediately planted bananas but was unhappy with the marketing arrangements operating at that time.
The Birth Of Trumps
Dr Dart purchases Stewart's Banana Ripeners and changed the name to "Trumps". The premises were located in Turbot Street opposite Little Roma Street – a stone's throw from George Street.
John Pendan Dart Joins The Business
Dr Dart's son, John Pendan Dart, joins the business. The adjoining fruit and vegetable agency was purchased which enabled the business to establish two modern temperature controlled ripening rooms in 1952.
John Pendan Dart Goes Abroad
John Pendan Dart leaves the business to work in the US for 12 months. On his return he worked in other family businesses returning to Trumps in 1956.
Trumps Starts To Sell Peanuts… In The Basement
A good year for peanuts in the Alstonville area (near Lismore) and Lismore Banana Company, who had a roaster, encourage Trumps to sell roasted nuts in their shells. Next year nuts were short and the prices increased so a new roaster was located under John Dart's house.
Trumps Starts Selling At The Rocklea Markets
The fruit and vegetable markets were shifted to their present position at Rocklea. Trumps was located at Section "1A". Being on the end of the block was not the best location for selling fruit, vegetables and bananas. However, it was convenient for nut and dried fruit buyers to pick up their goods as they left the market.
Trumps First Factory
Peanuts were short, even in Kingaroy, and to import them Trumps needed quarantine premises. The little house at Moorooka was "Trumps" first real "factory".
The 1974 Floods
The year of the big flood in S E Queensland. It is said "As the last case of bananas floated away so did the ripening activity at Trumps". However, the knowledge and benefit of temperature control, learned in banana ripening, became the mainstay of Trumps' success as Queensland's first specialist nut and dried fruit wholesaler. The factory at Moorooka was extended.
Dr Dart Hands Trumps To Next Generation
Dr Dart decided to sell out his financial interest in Trumps to the second generation. In the ten years from 1974 to 1984 sales grew from $741,000 to $3,600,000 – a 385.82% increase. The little old house was replaced and the building next door acquired by the company.
Declan Dart Joins The Business
John P Dart's son, Declan John Dart, joined the firm while studying at QUT for his Degree in Business. He upgraded the computing functions of the company.
Declan Dart Becomes Third Generation Owner
By 1st July 1996 sales had grown to $8,400,000. Declan Dart took over the company after he completed his degree with a major in Accounting. He became the third generation owner.
Trumps Broadened Its Horizons
Trumps broadened its horizons including many new products suitable for the Restaurant and Catering trade. That year sales topped $10,000,000. Declan Dart commenced a Professional MBA on a part-time basis graduating on 6th February 1999.
Trumps Turns 60
Trumps' reaches 60 years in business and sales had exploded to $15,000,000. On 30th October 2000 Trumps shifted to its current factory which can accommodate 2,500 pallet spaces in a state-of-the-art cool room.
Trumps Expands
A further extension to the factory and warehouse was added giving capacity to store some 7000 pallets all under temperature controlled conditions.
Trumps Goes International
With the ever expanding national business base Trumps now operate warehouses not only in Queensland but also in Perth and Auckland – New Zealand.
Trumps Launches Retail Brands
Trumps continued to grow by expanding the range of products offered at home and internationally. In October 2010 Trumps launched our My Organics Brand and relaunched Earth Bounty Brand.
Trumps 2011 Flood
On the 13th January our Rocklea facility was inundated with approximately 2m of water. Our 1st packing machine was producing stock within 2 weeks before the end of January and had all lines running by May. We would not have survived without the help and support of an army of volunteers, our suppliers and our customers.
Trumps Archerfield Opening
Trumps open a new factory in Archerfield purpose-built to produce all products that contain Gluten including Mueslis. This is the first step in our Allergen Reduction plan.
Trumps Acacia Ridge Opening
Trumps open a new factory in Acacia Ridge. This purpose-built factory was built to produce allergen free products. Trumps Launched the Earth Bounty Snacks to Go Range in September 2013, winning six awards for innovation.
Trumps Changes Warehousing Structure
Trumps move from outsourced warehousing to own warehousing in Perth to provide a more responsive and faster service to our increasing number of customers in WA. Auckland warehouse is closed and Trumps' NZ customers serviced directly from its Rocklea facility.
Launched Partnership With The Children's Hospital Foundation
Trumps was proud to partner our Earth's Bounty & MyOrganics™ brands with the Children's Hospital Foundation. Since that year we have made a 5c donation from every pack sold of the two brands.
COVID-19
In early 2020 the world changed, and like everyone else Trumps was heavily impacted by the pandemic. However, we are very proud that we worked through every lockdown and continued to offer consistent hours to all staff during COVID-19.
Rocklea Site Floods Again
Unfortunately, in late February 2022 Trumps was impacted by a flood, 11 years from the last. Through a huge effort from the Trumps community & the local city council, Trumps was dispatching orders just over a week after being underwater.
Trumps Launches Crave Snacks
In May 2024, We launched Crave Snacks, a tempting range from the Trumps brand. As proud Australian, family-owned business with a legacy of delivering quality products since 1939, Trumps invites you to immerse yourself in the delightful combination of sweet and savoury flavours.
Trumps Foodservice Launches New Toasted Range
In September 2025, we launched a new Toasted Range under our Foodservice brand. The range includes: Toasted Slivered Almonds, Toasted Flaked Almonds, Toasted Coconut Chips, Toasted Coconut Long Thread and Toasted Pine Nuts. This convenient range is designed to help commercial kitchens save time on preparation while supporting allergen segregation practices.
