Roelf Vos

Roelf Vos (1921–92), businessman, was involved in the Dutch resistance during the Second World War, and afterwards opened a drapery shop. With his friend Engel Sypkes, Roelf, his wife Miep and their children emigrated to Tasmania in 1951. Roelf, a committed Christian and believer in family life, opened various shops, and found success by transforming a Launceston milk bar into northern Tasmania's first self-service grocery store. Promotional campaigns, good treatment of staff and low prices brought great success, and he opened new supermarkets throughout northern Tasmania, eventually thirteen, employing 500 people. Woolworths bought him out in 1982, trading under the Roelf Vos name for twenty years.

Roelf built his own Swiss village, Grindelwald resort, and his sons continue his enterprises, the largest of the Vos group of companies being Vos Construction and Joinery.

Michael Vos