Beaufort River Meats first WA lamb supply to Progressive Supa IGA supermarkets

September 22, 2014

Prime lamb from Wellard’s Beaufort River Meats (BRM) will be available throughout Perth and South West WA for the first time, after BRM began supplying Progressive Supa IGA’s nine stores this week.

Beaufort River Meats Business Development Manager Blair Brice said the Progressive Supa IGA supply arrangement was a major breakthrough for both the South West-based meat processor and WA consumers seeking quality home grown lamb. Previously Beaufort River Meats had exported its entire production.

“This is an exciting development for Beaufort River Meats to open the new domestic market for our South West lamb which we expect will be welcomed by WA consumers,” Mr Brice said.

“This supply arrangement is a clear sign of confidence from a major, local supermarket chain.

“Beaufort River Meats has an excellent reputation when it comes to processing lamb for export and now we are showcasing domestically the high-quality product we supply to overseas customers.”

Wellard is currently supplying a range of cuts including legs, square cut shoulders, shanks, necks and loins, as well as spring special sides of lamb.

“Progressive Supa IGA’s in-store master butchers will then prepare the cuts to meet their customers exacting standards,” Mr Brice said.

Progressive Supa IGA Operations Manager Frank Oliveri said consumers would be the big winners.

“Our managers pride themselves in knowing what their customers want and at this time of year it is high quality, fresh lamb in season from WA’s South West at a competitive price,” Mr Oliveri said.

“The Beaufort River Meats product will be clearly labelled so consumers can see exactly who is supplying their spring lamb.”

Wellard Livestock Manager Paul Mahony said Wellard buyers had added trade weight specifications to their buy orders in the past week to supply the Progressive Supa IGA meat cases.

“We have begun purchasing lines of lambs with a wider weight range, placing the slightly heavier lambs into the domestic market and the lighter end in the export market,” he said.

Mr Brice said the move into the cuts-based domestic market created better utilisation of the BRM boning room, which in turn had prompted Wellard to move into offering a greater cuts-based selection to its export market menu, in addition to its traditional six-way cut or whole carcase trade.

Mr Oliveri said BRM’s ability to source quality year round had influenced the decision to source BRM lamb from the South West.

“In summer we know we can get a consistent supply of grain finished lamb from Wellard’s feedlot, so we can in turn provide our customers with a consistent quality and quantity of supply.”

For further information please contact:

Cameron Morse

Phone: + 61 8 9485 8888

Mobile: +61 (0) 433 886 871

Website: www.wellard.com.au

Background – Wellard

Wellard is a world leader in the production and distribution of livestock and grain.

Its two largest subsidiaries are Wellard Rural Exports, Australia’s largest livestock exporter and ship owner, and Wellard Agri, a large mixed farming land owner and operator specialising in the production of grains, legumes and livestock.

Wellard Rural Exports has supplied quality dairy and beef cattle and sheep and goats to the world for more than 30 years, and its investment in the live export industry is without peer. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, the company’s operations cover every aspect of the export chain, including feed milling, livestock aggregation, road transport, feedlot facilities throughout Australia and modern shipping.

The company’s flagship carrier, the MV Ocean Drover (formerly the MV Becrux), is a purpose-built livestock carrier capable of carrying 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle to major markets around the globe. She was commissioned in 2002.

Two, technologically advanced, purpose-built vessels, the MV Ocean Swagman and the MV Ocean Outback, were launched in 2010. They offer unparalleled levels of safety for the livestock, crew and vessel, and can transport 7000 cattle, 25,000 sheep, or a combination of both.

Wellard’s abattoir, Beaufort River Meats, processes up to 2500 sheep and lambs a day, enabling Wellard to meet customer demand for both livestock and chilled and frozen meat.

Wellard Agri owns and operates eight farms covering 35,700 hectares across three principal agri-hubs. The two northern hubs are located at Dongara and Watheroo in Western Australia’s central midlands and one is located at Kojonup in the Great Southern region of WA.

The Dongara hub is home to The Grange, a 14,500 hectare property which is considered one of Western Australia’s blue chip farming properties.

The remaining landholding being more than 21,500 hectares, in total planting 23,500 hectares to a variety of grains and legumes. The other 6,100ha is devoted to sheep and cattle production, including the Hyfield Poll Merino stud at Kojonup. In addition, Wellard leases an additional 13,500ha for livestock and grain production.

Wellard Agri also has operations in the farm machinery sector, through management of the CLAAS Harvest Centres at Esperance, Katanning, Wongan Hills and Geraldton for the Landpower range of farm machinery.

Visit www.wellard.com.au