Processing

Partners complete buyout of WA’s Western Meat Packers business

Beef Central, 14/08/2017

Western Meat Packers Group Margaret River abattoir general manager Jamie Warburton (left) and WMPG CEO Andrew Fuda with one of the newly branded WMPG trucks leaving to deliver beef to Perth.

ONE of the investors in WA’s Western Meat Packers Group’s Margaret River abattoir has completed a buyout of partners in the business.

Rod Russell and his wife Shana now control 100 percent of the assets of Western Meat Packers Group, have completed a buyout of Russell and Lee family members.

Western Meat Packers, which started operations in 1983, employs 360 staff across slaughtering, boning and packing facilities on two sites at Margaret River and Osborne Park, and has an annual turnover of about $150 million.

Meeting at Western Meat Packers’s 100ha Margaret River abattoir site are abattoir GM Jamie Warburton, WMPG CEO Andrew Fuda and abattoir QA Manager Gareth McQuillan.

Announcing the substantial commitment and successful buyout, WMPG chief executive Andrew Fuda said such a positive investment by the founders of the business signalled an exciting stage in the company’s future.

With a five day a week throughput of about 400 cattle a day and some relief in sight in terms of cattle supply, the Margaret River slaughter facility is implementing significant chiller capacity upgrades and other fitouts to accommodate developing export market prospects.

“Although we currently send all beef, typically sides and quarters, overnight to WMPG’s Osborne Park boning and packing facility to ensure rapid turnaround from paddock to plate, we’re moving towards boning and packing at our Margaret River plant to optimise expanding business opportunities in Asia, in particular,” Mr Fuda said.

Western Meat Packers’ Rod Russell and Andrew Fuda

A new integrated chiller and freezer unit at Margaret River will allow faster packing and freezing, minimising shrinkage while also improving yields of offals, which are becoming increasingly sought after by WMPG’s Asian export customers.

“The new fitout also meant that shifts could be expanded and processing could move to seven days, offering potential weekly slaughter capacity of more than 4000 head,” Mr Fuda said.

“With chilling and freezing all under one roof and on the site where the cattle are slaughtered and processed, it will put us in the frame for export listings for China and Malaysia – both markets we’ve been working on for quite some time,” he said.

“The Western Meat Packers brand and reputation for quality and reliability in Asian markets, developed and nurtured over 30 plus years by Rod and senior management, gives us confidence that once equipped with the appropriate listings, we can move quickly to larger supply,” Mr Fuda said.

 

 

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  1. kim loxton, 15/08/2017

    nice headwear Rodneeee

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