Harvey Beef eyes expansion

It went into production in May with a new range of Harvey Beef-branded products hitting the shelves in Coles, IGA and other independent stores.

Harvey Beef also gained the rights to be the exclusive supplier of beef and lamb products to Aldi in WA after it opened its first stores in WA this year.

Minderoo Group head of investment John Hartman said since opening Harvey Beef had expanded its range and begun exporting into five countries.

“We have launched our Harvey Beef brand of sausages and burgers recently into IGA,” he said.

“We are in discussions to develop a wide range of beef products that would be available in major supermarkets in the new year.

“We have also exported a range of retail ready packs. There is a strong interest in markets such as China, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. It is a positive for WA to have our brand on those overseas shelves.”

Since Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Group acquired Harvey Beef in May 2014, the company has invested more than $25 million in upgrading and expanding the facilities.

The new facility is one of only three in Australia which allows for export from an integrated facility of retail-ready products to consumers around the world.

The facility was opened by The Nationals WA MLA and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman.

The facility has full export accreditation due to its integrated location onsite at Harvey, connected to the main beef processing facility.

Mr Forrest said Harvey Beef was honoured to be able to deliver the finest beef produced by WA farmers to the world, while capturing additional value and creating jobs locally.

“The retail packaging facility allowed Harvey Beef to service the domestic and export customers with the highest quality WA beef through a totally integrated paddock-to-plate model,” Mr Forrest said.

“Through this investment we will take advantage of high-growth, high-value premium opportunities in export markets at the intersection of what consumers desire and what WA businesses can produce.”

Indago Solutions director Steve Meerwald said he was impressed with the plant and that it could produce more than 60 packages a minute.

“It is a great investment in the WA beef industry,” he said.

“For producers, retailers and the export market; it is good to see someone is prepared to back the interest in agriculture with a sound and solid investment.

“I think once you have a facility like this you can adapt it to do a range of things and I think it has opened up a whole world of opportunities for Harvey Beef but also for WA producers, which is fantastic news.”

The facility retail packages beef from WA producers and lamb products supplied through WAMMCO to Aldi.

Mr Hartman said Aldi was supporting WA beef producers and the industry by sourcing local products.

“Harvey Beef is proud to be partnering with Aldi for the supply of retail-ready beef and lamb products in WA,” he said.

Mr Hartman said since the opening feedback has been positive regarding the new range.

“We are still growing and the facility was built to meet the capacity,” he said. “The feedback on shelf life and quality is really high.

“Because of the integrated nature of the facility, we are getting up to 20 per cent more shelf life compared to our competitors.

“It also attracts those export markets as we have the capability to ship the products to market with plenty of time.”

Harvey Beef had received expressions of interest from overseas customers for its premium products.

While the lamb will be sold domestically, beef product produced in Harvey will be air-freighted and delivered overnight to the leading supermarkets of Asia, putting premium Harvey Beef-branded product on the shelves.

The growing beef markets of Asia; mainly in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Japan, and South Korea; and the Middle East will be a key focus for export of chilled and frozen retail-ready product.