SA’s Top 100 companies revealed: The full list
Today we name the top 100 South Australian companies, as revealed by the InDaily SA Business Index.

The list, developed by analysts at Prescotts Securities, measures financial year revenue and each company’s contribution to employment.
Entries for the InDaily South Australian Business Index Top 100 were eligible based on the following criteria:
- They must be a public South Australian company with an Adelaide share registry; or,
- A South Australian-operated company, founded and majority (50.01 per cent plus) owned by South Australians;
- Not owned in part or whole by any government body or government agency;
- Not registered with the ATO as a not-for-profit organisation; or,
- Registered with the ATO as a not-for-profit but gain more than 90 per cent of revenue through commercial activities.
TOP 10
10
Drakes Supermarkets Pty Ltd
Sector: Retail
Financial year revenue: $1,000,000,000+
Employees: 5500
Drakes Supermarkets is the largest independent grocery retailer in Australia and specialises in supermarket retailing. Operating in more than 50 stores across South Australia and Queensland, the company now has an annual turnover in excess of $1 billion and employs more than 5500 staff nationally.
9
CMV Group Pty Ltd
Sector: Retail
Financial year revenue: $1,057,417,000
Employees: 1236
From a staff of five in 1934, the CMV Group now operates substantial operations in automotive dealerships and horticulture predominately in South Australia and Victoria, employing more than 1200 staff and has an annual turnover in excess of $1 billion.
8
Boart Longyear Limited
Sector: Construction and engineering
Financial year revenue: $1,076,671,000
Employees: 5933
Boart Longyear Limited is a provider of drilling services, drilling equipment and performance tooling for mining and drilling companies. The company operates through two segments: Global Drilling Services and Global Products.
7
Statewide
Sector: Financial services
Financial year revenue: $1,239,365,000
Employees: 109
Statewide is a South Australian industry fund that is open to all industries and locations. In July 2012, Statewide merged with Local Super, from South Australia to form StatewideSuper. The new fund has in excess of $6 billion in funds under management and 150,000 members.
6
Adelaide Brighton Ltd
Sector: Contractors and engineers
Financial year revenue: $1,336,000,000
Employees: 1600
Adelaide Brighton Cement (ABC) is an Australian manufacturer of cement, lime and dry blended products. ABC operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in South Australia, the Northern Territory, Fyansford, Victoria and New South Wales. Associated brands and companies include Geelong Cement, Cockburn Cement, Sunstate Cement, Northern Cement, Independent Cement & Lime, and Building Product Supplies. It is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange as Adelaide Brighton Limited (ABC).
5
SA Power Networks
Sector: Electricity provision
Financial year revenue: $1,404,530,000
Employees: 2036
SA Power Networks (previously ETSA Utilities) is the operator of the South Australian electricity distribution network, delivering electricity from the high voltage transmission network connection points through a network of about 87,500 kilometres of powerlines, to about 830,000 residential and business customers throughout most of South Australia.
4
Elders Limited
Sector: Food and wine
Financial year revenue: $1,431,520,000
Employees: 1937
Elders Limited is an Australian-based agribusiness company. Elder Smith & Co was founded in 1839 in South Australia by Alexander Lang Elder as a new arm of his family’s Scottish-based merchant and shipping business.
3
Thomas Foods International Consolidated Pty Ltd
Sector: Food and wine
Financial year revenue: $1,500,000,000
Employees: 2500
Thomas Foods International Consolidated generates revenue from livestock trading, meat processing and meat wholesaling. The company supplies a wide range of meat products for domestic and overseas markets, exporting to more than 80 countries.
2
Peregrine Corporation Pty Ltd
Sector: Retail
Financial year revenue: $1,650,000,000
Employees: 2200
Peregrine Corporation generates the majority of its revenue by operating a chain of service stations and convenience retail outlets under the On The Run (OTR) banner in South Australia. The company also operates a chain of tobacconists across Australia under the Smokemart & GiftBox brand.
1
Santos Ltd
Sector: Oil and mining
Financial year revenue: $4,099,000,000
Employees: 3636
Santos is Australia’s largest domestic gas producer, supplying sales gas to all mainland states and territories, ethane to Sydney as well as oil and liquids to domestic and international customers. The company’s core business was built on gas and oil discoveries in the Cooper Basin, predominantly spanning north-east South Australia and south-west Queensland. These gas reserves are the main source of natural gas to Australia’s eastern states.