Antonis (Tony) Beris, a towering figure in the Greek Australian community and founder of Delta Sales, has passed away in Melbourne at the age of 97.
Born in Methoni, Messinia, Beris migrated to Australia in 1956. He first worked as a salesman in imitation jewellery before shifting into the food trade, a move that would define his life’s work.
In 1967, with business partner John Kotis, he co-founded Delta Sales with just $4,000 each and sheer determination.
“We did everything with our own hands, everything on our back,” Beris recalled in a 2011 interview with Neos Kosmos. The two men spent their days visiting clients and their nights preparing orders, laying the foundation for what would become one of Australia’s most successful food import companies.
Building Delta Sales
From its Brunswick base, Delta Sales expanded rapidly, importing hundreds of tonnes of feta, olives and olive oil each year, alongside a growing range of Greek and continental delicacies. By the 2000s, it was a dominant player in the Australian food market, with products stocked in major supermarket chains.
For Beris, the secret was simple: consistency, good service and loyal employees. “Once you have good employees, you can have good service, you will have happy customers and as a result success,” he said, crediting early lessons in Athens where staff were rewarded and respected.
A guru of the trade
Known in the industry as “The Guru,” Beris often shared the wisdom of his half-century career. He stressed financial caution, recalling how Delta thrived in 1988, a tough year for many, because he had not overextended. “I used to take my bank manager out for dinner twice a month, he gave me valuable advice and he regarded me as a friend,” he said.
He also had a sharp eye for consumer trends.
“I used to bring cheese and oil for the Greek community, 40 years ago. Today all the Australians love the Greek products,” he said in a previous Neos Kosmos interview, long before feta and olive oil became staples in Australian homes.
Legacy and transition
Even in his 80s, Beris showed no sign of slowing down. “I will stay for as long as I can,” he had said with determination. In 2020, aged 92, he sold Delta Sales to another Greek-owned company, Hudson Food Group, ensuring the business remained in community hands.
Remembered as both a philanthropist and businessman, Tony Beris leaves behind not only a thriving enterprise but also a story of resilience, foresight and service. From jewellery salesman to food industry pioneer, his journey stands as a testament to the grit and success of postwar Greek migration to Australia.
