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The Food Products Division developed from a strategy to be more involved in the selling and marketing of our almonds, to participate in added value processing, and to move closer to the consumer. Our intent was to build more sustainable distribution channels for our almond production and to derive additional income from these activities.
From our origins as a farm gate seller of almonds, the establishment of a processing and marketing business was identified as the strategy to become more involved in the further processing and marketing of our almond crop. We recognized the benefit of a product range that could be marketed to a number of channels rather than a single product with limited channels. The diversification into processing and marketing would also enable the company to lock in distribution channels for the future almond production from new orchards developed on behalf of investors.
Over the years a number of strategic acquisitions have been made to give the company a manufacturing base to produce a range of nut based products with a market leadership position in Australia. The consolidated group resulting from this acquisition program is what is now known as our Food Products Division.
Acquisition |
Details |
Lucky Candy (1998) |
Cooking needs distributed to major retailers under the leading “Lucky” brand. Category has since expanded to healthy snacking |
Munch Nuts (1999) |
Major supplier of a range of private label salty snacks to major retailers. |
Renshaw Foods (2000) |
Manufacturer and processor of nut based ingredients to major and small food manufacturers, and supplier to food service and other distributors and wholesalers. |
Meriram (2003) |
Manufacturer of branded products to cooking needs, health and muesli categories of major supermarkets. Wider distribution network to smaller retailers and health food stores. |
Nibbles (2004) |
Category specialist and major supplier to the fresh produce section of major supermarkets. |
Today we produce an extensive range of packaged nuts and associated products including snacks, cooking ingredients, mueslis, natural health foods, dried fruits etc. We are Australia’s leading supplier of processed and packaged nuts to Australian supermarkets with a presence in all categories where nuts are ranged. We market through the Lucky, Sunsol, Nu-Vit, Meriram and Soland brands as well as manufacturing a number of private label and bulk products for retailers. In addition we manufacture a number of nut-based ingredients for food manufacturers, food service distributors and health food stores.
The division operates two manufacturing facilities; Thomastown, Melbourne which employs approximately 75 staff, and Everton Hills, Brisbane which employs approximately 80 staff.
We service all major supermarkets and smaller independent retailers and run a national merchandising team of 40 staff to service our product ranges in major retailers. |
