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<a href="main.html"><b>Almonds</b></a>
<p>Select Harvests is Australia's leading integrated almond producer, marketer
and exporter, and one of Australia's leading listed agri-food companies.</p>
<p> The company also manufactures, under contract, leading brands of grain based
pelletised pesticide products for the Australasian market.</p>
<p> Select Harvests is Australia's largest grower and processor of almonds, contributing
30% of Australia's total production. The company owns and operates four farms
covering 913 hectares of planted almond orchards in the Robinvale area of Victoria
(Kyndalyn Park, Boundary Bend, Wemen and Carina). </p>
<p>Select Harvests is also developing orchards at Carina, which it will manage
and operate on behalf of external investors. The company owns and operates modern
almond processing facilities which have sufficient capacity to handle the increased
tonnages planned for the future.</p>
<p> In 1998/1999 Select Harvests sold 2,118 tonnes of almonds of which 34% were
exported.</p>
<p> Following the acquisition of Lucky Candy in October 1998, Select Harvests
processes, packages and markets almond and other nut and dried fruit products
through Australian supermarkets under the 'Lucky' brand. A new premium product
range under the 'Select' brand will be introduced to the market in the second
half of 1999. </p>
<p>Kyndalyn Park is an integrated almond operation comprising growing, processing
and marketing. The almond operations are located near Robinvale in north west
Victoria and consist of four orchards and a nursery. The mature orchards total
1850acres in area with 400acres of new plantings and 9acre nursery.</p>
<p>
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<td width="49%">The processing operation is divided into two parts. The
hulling and cracking plant is located on the main farm at Kyndalyn Park
and the sorting and packing operation is situated close by at Euston the
sister city of Robinvale on the NSW side of the Murray River.</td>
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<p>Kyndalyn Park is Australia's largest grower supplying approximately 30% of
domestic production.</p>
<h3>Future Plans</h3>
<p>Select Harvests currently produces 2300MT of almonds in house. Our future plans
are to increase our processing and marketing tonnage to 6000MT.</p>
<p>This will be achieved through incremental increases from our new orchards and
by securing access to an additional 2000acres of externally owned orchards.</p>
<p>We are seeking partners who are interested in becoming involved in the Australian
almond industry through investment in new orchards. Alternatively existing horticultural
or agricultural operations may be interested in diversifying into almonds.</p>
<p>We are able to offer a full service from orchard establishment through to sales
and marketing ensuring the success of the project and providing security of
processing capacity and a guaranteed market for the product.</p>
<p>Implementation of these plans will cement our position as the major processor
and marketer of Australian almonds, deliver substantial economies of scale and
position us as a relevant marketer on the world almond scene.</p>
<p>
Kyndalyn Park almonds are well known in domestic and international markets.
Many customers see benefits in purchasing Australian almonds and in particular
those produced by Kyndalyn Park. </p>
<p>The major benefits are seen as;</p>
<ul>
<li> Clean Green Environment <br>
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<td width="57%">The Victorian Riverina where Select Harvests' almonds
are grown is ideally adapted to Almond growing. The fertile soils are
irrigated with water from the famous Murray River and the climate is
very predictable during the growing period and yields are not subject
to great fluctuations. </td>
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</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Insect Free <br>
<br>
The area where Select Harvests' almonds are grown is free of the insects that
affect the crops of the major producing countries.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li> Counter-Seasonal <br>
<br>
With over 95% of world production grown in the Northern Hemisphere, Select
Harvests' almonds provide a fresh alternative for consumers.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li>Consistent Quality <br>
<br>
As Australia's largest single grower (as distinct from a co-operative of growers)
Select Harvests controls all aspects of growing, harvesting, processing, sorting
and packing. This ensures consistent quality of the end product for consumers.
</li>
</ul>
<p> <i><b>Processing</b></i><br>
</p>
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<td width="57%">Select Harvests recently completed the installation of a modern
hulling and cracking plant and has upgraded its sorting and packing operation
through the purchase of a trichromatic belt colour sorter. This upgrade
gives Select Harvests large scale processing capacity and the ability to
produce high quality product at a minimal cost. </td>
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<p>Select Harvests sells product both domestically and to export markets. </p>
<p>Almonds are the most versatile of edible nuts and are sold domestically to
a range of customers including;</p>
<ul>
<li>confectioners</li>
<li> bakers and cereal manufacturers</li>
<li>ice cream and dairy producers</li>
<li>supermarket packers</li>
<li> food service</li>
<li> continental wholesalers<br>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Australia whilst a small player on the world scene has been successful in many
overseas markets particularly due to our green image and our counter seasonal
harvest to the major world grower, USA.</p>
<p>Export markets include;</p>
<ul>
<li> South East Asia </li>
<li> India</li>
<li> Europe</li>
<li> Middle East</li>
<li> United Kingdom</li>
</ul>
<p>Our marketing plan focuses on a mix of domestic and export business together
with key customer and market strategies. Our objective is to ensure ongoing
markets for our product and an ability to manage returns within commodity price
movements.<br>
<br>
Almonds are the most versatile of all nuts. They have been widely accepted in
their raw form as well as in a myriad of processed forms and are extensively
used in cooking, breakfast cereals, confectionery and snacking.</p>
<p>Recently, momentum has increased in the promotion of almonds as a healthy food.
Almonds are amongst the most nutritious foods known.</p>
<p>The long held myth that nuts are 'high in fat' and as such should be consumed
infrequently is slowly being 'debunked'. Recent studies are beginning to show
that in addition to their great taste, almonds have health benefits which could
see them adding considerable nutritional value to diets into which they are
incorporated.</p>
<p>Almonds themselves are cholesterol fee and a good source of dietary fibre.
Although it is true that almonds are high in fat, it is predominantly a monounsaturated
fat. These monounsaturated fats which are sometimes referred to as 'good fats'
have been shown to reduce levels of bad cholesterol in the body. Recent research
has shown that consuming 100g a day of almonds could reduce cholesterol levels
by 12%. The resultant effect is that consumption of almonds can lead to a reduction
in the risk of coronary heart disease.</p>
<p>Almonds also contain high levels of antioxidants such as Vitamin E, protein,
calcium and minerals valuable to daily dietary intakes. An increasing body of
scientific research has linked Vitamin E to lowering the risk of heart disease.
A 1996 research study of 34,000 women showed that the consumption of foods rich
in Vitamin E cut their risk of heart disease by over 60%. This study cited nuts
as one of the most concentrated food sources of Vitamin E.</p>
<p>Almonds have been shown to be an excellent natural source of phytochemicals.
Phytochemicals are a group of biologically active compounds found in plant based
foods which may help in the fight against cancer. In particular preliminary
laboratory research has shown that several phytochemicals found in almonds have
been shown to suppress certain types of cancer cell growth.</p>
<p> <sup><font size="1"><i><font size="2">1</font></i></font></sup><font size="2"><i>Dr
Gene Spiller, 'Effect of Two Foods High in Monounsaturated Fat on Plasma Cholesterol'.</i></font></p>
<p>Riverina Pelletising Services Pty Ltd (RPS) is a contract pesticide manufacturing
facility located at Yenda, which is 20 minutes east of Griffith, NSW. The operation
specialises in the manufacture of molluscicides (slug and snail baits) and rodenticides
(rat and mouse baits) for the Australian and New Zealand commercial and retail
markets.</p>
<p>The company's origins can be traced to the DEFENDER brand name. DEFENDER snail
bait is extremely well known in the Australian home garden market. As part of
the Defender group of companies RPS provided the manufacturing function for
Defender products, in particular, fertilisers and other pesticides. Through
the mid and late 1980's the brand became so well known it became synonymous
with gardening (ie. "Don't forget the Defender").</p>
<br>
A strategic decision was made in early 1997 whereby the company did not see its
future in marketing and distributing garden products in Australia. RPS's core
capability was seen as manufacturing pesticide products and accordingly the brand
was sold to Monsanto in April 1997 who subsequently sold the brand to Scotts Australia
in early 1999.
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<td width="51%">RPS has upgraded its manufacturing facilities over the last
three years to increase production capacity and packaging capabilities,
and lower direct labour costs. The operation has continued to focus on handling
and manufacturing molluscicide and rodenticide products for leading brands
in the Australia and New Zealand. </td>
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<p align="left"> As the company's core capabilities lie with pelletising, efforts
are underway to identify new opportunites in the marketplace to expand its product
offering.</p>
<p>Riverina Pelletisng Services has been accredited to ISO9002 since July 1996
and recently passed its triennial audit. In addition the company has Agsafe
accreditation. </p>
<p>Lucky Candy Co. was established by the Leach family in 1957. Originally a producer
of confectionary, Lucky began to concentrate on packing nuts and specialty fruits
in the early 1960's.</p>
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<p>Lucky is now the market leader in packaged nuts and fruits in the baking
section of Australian supermarkets. Almonds and walnuts have traditionally
been Lucky's best sellers.</p>
<p>Lucky diversified into almond growing in the early 1970's and this close
relationship with the almond industry has blossomed with the 1998 acquisition
of Lucky by Australia's largest almond grower, Select Harvests Limited.</p>
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<p>Lucky's range now includes 20 different nuts and fruits:</p>
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<td>Almonds</td>
<td>Apricots</td>
<td>Brazil nuts</td>
<td>Cashews</td>
<td>Cherries</td>
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<td>Dates</td>
<td>Figs</td>
<td>Ginger</td>
<td>Hazel nuts</td>
<td>Macadamias</td>
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<td>Paw Paw</td>
<td>Peanuts</td>
<td>Pecans</td>
<td>Pepitas</td>
<td>Pineapple</td>
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<td>Pine nuts</td>
<td>Pistachios</td>
<td>Sesame seeds</td>
<td>Sunflower seeds</td>
<td>Walnuts</td>
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<p> Supermarket sales in 1998/99 totalled $17 Million.</p>
<p>Packaging varies in size from 50g to 500g.</p>
<p>In 1999, Lucky launched a new brand of high quality products under the "Select"
label. Each nut and fruit within the range is the best quality available for
that product.</p>
<p>Lucky is also able to highlight the considerable health benefits of its range
and where possible sources its products from Australian suppliers.</p>
<p>Lucky prides itself in its long history of providing quality nuts and fruit
to Australian consumers. Lucky is a trusted household name in many parts of
Australia and it is this success which we intend to build on in export markets.</p>
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<p>Key strengths of the Lucky business are;</p>
<ul>
<li> Considerable experience in sourcing quality raw materials.</li>
<li>Long standing relationship with supermarket industry</li>
<li>A proven track record on reliably supplying quality products</li>
<li>Flexibility to pack a wide range of products</li>
<li> Strong competitive brand position</li>
</ul>
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<p><b>Nutrition</b> </p>
<p>Consumers are beginning to become aware of the considerable nutritional benefits
of eating nuts. Many scientific studies have confirmed that most nuts are free
of cholesterol, high in protein and contain large quantities of essential vitamins
and minerals. Traditionally, Lucky products were purchased for use in cakes,
biscuits and other baking products. In recent times the market for Lucky's products
has grown through health conscious consumers buying Lucky products as a tasty,
nutritious snack. </p>
<p>Lucky is in the enviable position of promoting a highly nutritious food with
a brand that is a trusted household name.</p>
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