Kmart accused of stealing Aussie innovation: 'It’s the most un-Australian thing I’ve ever seen'

Aussie businesses rely on innovation to stay ahead, but when a major retailer gets involved, things can quickly take a turn.

What started as an exciting breakthrough for a local entrepreneur soon sparked a controversy that’s now catching the attention of many.

The issue has ignited a conversation about what happens when support for homegrown talent is called into question.


A small-business owner has accused Kmart of engaging in an 'un-Australian' act after the retail giant began selling a dupe of a groundbreaking kitchen tool he designed.


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Kmart is accused of copying Aussie innovation in kitchen tools. Image source: Dreamfarm and Kmart


Alex Gransbury, the founder of domestic industrial design company Dreamfarm, claimed Kmart had copied his award-winning fold-flat citrus juicer, the Fluicer.

Gransbury has spent the past 22 years redesigning everyday household items to enhance their functionality, starting his Brisbane-based company in his garage in 2003.

The Fluicer, which Gransbury designed last year, became his most successful creation.


Available in three sizes for limes, lemons, and oranges, the Fluicer retails between $19.95 and $29.95.

The juicer boasts a unique fold design, an inbuilt pip catcher for straining and funnelling juice, and anti-spray features.

Recognised for its innovative design, the Fluicer was named one of Time Magazine's best inventions in 2023 and was also listed on Oprah's favourite things.


However, earlier this month, Gransbury discovered a nearly identical version of his product, being sold under Kmart’s Anko brand, for just $5.

The Fluicer’s distinctive fold design and anti-spray feature were replicated, though the Kmart version lacked the same functionality.

Gransbury, clearly frustrated, stated: 'It’s the most un-Australian thing I’ve ever seen.'

He added: 'We design everything in-house in Brisbane ourselves, we come up with the prototyping, we employ about 30 people here in Australia, and that product was huge for us.'


Gransbury also claimed Kmart used photos of his product on their packaging, showing anti-spray features similar to those in the Fluicer.

However, he pointed out that the Kmart product did not incorporate the same anti-spray features.

According to Gransbury, Kmart’s knockoff was too small to juice lemons effectively and struggled even with limes.


Gransbury revealed that while he had not patented the Fluicer in Australia, the cost of doing so, around $30,000, was not financially feasible.

He also noted that maintaining a patent would require yearly fees, adding to the financial burden.

Even with a patent, Gransbury explained, the onus would have been on him to take legal action, which would have cost him a significant amount of money.

This wasn’t the first time a Dreamfarm product had been copied, but Gransbury expressed feeling particularly disheartened by the fact that another Australian company had ripped off his design.

'I wish, in Australia, we supported each other, but when did it become OK to rip each other off?' he asked.

Key Takeaways

  • A Brisbane entrepreneur accused Kmart of copying his award-winning citrus juicer, calling it 'un-Australian.'
  • The juicer, which features a unique fold design and anti-spray function, was a major success for his small business, Dreamfarm.
  • Gransbury discovered Kmart's duplicate product, sold for a fraction of the price, lacking the same features and functionality.
  • Despite not having a patent, Gransbury expressed frustration that another Aussie company copied his design, questioning why local businesses don’t support each other.

As this controversy continues to unfold, one question remains: should bigger companies be held more accountable for copying local innovations, or is it simply part of business?

We’d love to hear your thoughts – drop a comment and join the conversation.
 

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now I wonder when KMart started dealing with Temu they had on Current Affair about the rip offs Temu is selling of products designed in Australia and you are not safe even with a Patent etc it's up to you to try to get Temu to take it down, bunch of rotten crooks if you ask me, I won't buy from Kmart or Temu especially after my daughters' face was affected by the Christmas doona cover that ended up being recalled, it was to late to save her from the pain, there is no pride in production or honesty anymore and we wonder why our kids are behaving like they are .............such a shame
 
For far too long Australian inventions and technology have been shipped offshore due to cheaper labour/production costs. Here's a bloke, doing the right thing, designing, manufacturing and employing in Australia and getting stabbed in the back by the kmart monster. No bloody wonder so few Aussies are inspired to 'give it a go'!
 
now I wonder when KMart started dealing with Temu they had on Current Affair about the rip offs Temu is selling of products designed in Australia and you are not safe even with a Patent etc it's up to you to try to get Temu to take it down, bunch of rotten crooks if you ask me, I won't buy from Kmart or Temu especially after my daughters' face was affected by the Christmas doona cover that ended up being recalled, it was to late to save her from the pain, there is no pride in production or honesty anymore and we wonder why our kids are behaving like they are .............such a shame
Punctuation would help in the reading. It is just a mass of words that the reader has to decipher.
 
This is why we have a patents department. Surely you would factor the costs into your invention cost right from the start. If you don’t purchase a patent for an object you can’t complain if someone else manufactures and sells the same or similar object. Sorry if that sounds harsh but that’s just the way it is.
 
I sympathise with Gransbury but wasn't he naïve to leave himself open to abuse? Business is dog-ravage-dog. We're no longer in the 18th Century, where the commander of one army would invite the other army to fire first!

And isn't Kmart an American company?

#HardLessons #KmartSucks
 
This is why we have a patents department. Surely you would factor the costs into your invention cost right from the start. If you don’t purchase a patent for an object you can’t complain if someone else manufactures and sells the same or similar object. Sorry if that sounds harsh but that’s just the way it is.
Yep.
 
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This is why we have a patents department. Surely you would factor the costs into your invention cost right from the start. If you don’t purchase a patent for an object you can’t complain if someone else manufactures and sells the same or similar object. Sorry if that sounds harsh but that’s just the way it is.
Yep
un australian is such a stupid meaningless term, if the americans want to say unamercan well let them keep the saying i don't want it
I feel the same. We ... erm ... just copied it from America ...
 
Are any other SDC Rewards members getting hammered with ads today?
My SDC Rewards came out of my bank account yesterday but I have noticed that I'm not being recognised as a member as there is no yellow star next to my initial. Anyone else in the same boat today?
 
My SDC Rewards came out of my bank account yesterday but I have noticed that I'm not being recognised as a member as there is no yellow star next to my initial. Anyone else in the same boat today?
Why not contact SDC and ask them to remedy. You just have to press reply on the email you received this morning.
 
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un australian is such a stupid meaningless term, if the americans want to say unamercan well let them keep the saying i don't want it
Un-Australian is older than the Un-American version.
We've been using it for many years, in modern times it was used in the 90's and also in the 80's by John Howard.
But if you want to go right back it was first used in the 1850's, way longer than the American one.
So please do a bit of research before you post un-truths :)
 
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It's not okay to rip anyone off. Kmart don't have a conscience and going by the price they charge for their product, says a lot. Cheap and nasty. Buy the real deal, not the copy.
 
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