Ralph Plarre has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Ralph Plarre, who has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the baking industry, a fitting recognition for a lifetime of leadership, innovation and service.

For more than five decades, Ralph has helped shape the Australian baking industry and the values our business still lives by today. From growing a small family bakery into one of Victoria’s most trusted food brands, to championing sustainable practices long before they were widely understood, Ralph has always led with vision, courage and heart.

His commitment to environmental responsibility saw him drive initiatives like carbon‑offset tree planting and the creation of one of Australia’s most sustainable bakery facilities. His belief in people has created thousands of jobs, supported new small business owners and built a workplace culture defined by care, generosity and community impact.

Ralph also devoted his skills to charitable and humanitarian work, including travelling to communities in East Timor and Uganda to help local nuns establish bakeries and build long‑term capability where it was needed most.

Ralph’s work has left a lasting mark on our industry and our country, elevating standards, inspiring future leaders and proving that doing the right thing can be good business.

We couldn’t be prouder to see him recognised at a national level.
Congratulations, Ralph!

 

A closer look at the lasting impact Ralph has made across industry, sustainability and community:

 

Service to Industry & Business Leadership
  • CEO of Plarre’s Cakes from the mid‑1960s and co‑founder of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses (1980).
  • Grew a small family bakery into one of Victoria’s largest and most trusted food brands.
  • Created more than 1,000 jobs across 80+ stores.
  • Pioneered bakery franchising in 1990, helping hundreds of Australians start small businesses.
  • Former President of both the Australian Society of Baking and the Baking Industry Association of Victoria.
  • Inductee, Australian Society of Baking Hall of Fame.
Environmental & Sustainability Leadership
  • Introduced carbon‑offset tree planting in the early 1990s, creating the Ferguson Plarre Forest with over 40,000 trees planted.
  • Co‑designed and funded one of Australia’s most sustainable bakery facilities (2007).
  • Led the business to win the Gold Banksia Award (2009), Australia’s highest environmental sustainability honour.
Awards & Professional Recognition
  • Gold Banksia Award for Environmental Sustainability (2009)
  • Victorian Manufacturer’s Hall of Fame Award (2010)
  • Lifetime Hall of Fame recognition from the Australian Society of Baking
Community Service & Humanitarian Work
  • Shared baking skills in East Timor and Uganda to support capability‑building in disadvantaged communities.
  • Mentored bakers, entrepreneurs and industry peers for decades.
  • Fostered a workplace culture grounded in empathy, integrity and social responsibility.
  • Helped provide stable employment and training pathways for thousands.

A Legacy of National Impact

Ralph has been a pioneer of sustainable business long before it was mainstream, a respected industry statesman, and a champion of ethical, community‑minded entrepreneurship. His leadership has left a generational legacy of innovation, environmental stewardship and care for people.

Congratulations, Ralph, this honour is so richly deserved. Your legacy continues to inspire us every day.