AUSTRALIAN MADE
Pandemic disruptions highlight the importance of local manufacturing SPC’s role as a supplier of canned tomatoes on Australian shelves is more important than ever as the locally produced canned fruit and vegetable market shrinks. Food & Beverage Industry News reports.
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PC CEO Robert Giles has been in the food and beverage industry for decades and in that time he has seen the changing landscape around locally owned and sourced ingredients for canned fruit and vegetables, particularly tomatoes. SPC CEO Robert Giles has been in the food and beverage industry for decades and in that time he has seen the changing landscape around locally owned and sourced ingredients for canned fruit and vegetables, particularly tomatoes. “There are really only two major processors of tomatoes left in Australia. We are one of them and the other one is more a food service ingredient supplier, making us the only branded tomato supplier who put tomatoes on the shelves left in the country,” said Giles.
SPC currently works with eight tomato growers on a contractual basis. These contracts are decided upon at the beginning of the year before the season starts. All the tomatoes are mechanically harvested in north and north-western Victoria before being transported to SPC’s plant in March. The lack of tomato processors in Australia became more obvious when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March of 2020, disrupting imports and the global supply chain. In past years, a lot of cheaper options were imported from Europe, specifically Italy where the government offer subsidies for the farmers. “We have called for changes to help make it an even playing field over the years,” said Giles.
"We are seeing the results of COVID disruptions to global shipping and supply chains now. SPC has stepped in to fill that gap, which is a shining example of why we need an Australian manufacturer that could ramp up its volume." “We are seeing the results of COVID disruptions to global shipping and supply chains now. SPC has stepped in to fill that gap, which is a shining example of why we need an Australian manufacturer that could ramp up its volume. “Last year, COVID hit in March, which is the start of the tomato season, so we quickly changed our approach because we couldn’t keep up with demand. But we could produce more standard diced to help push as much
out into the marketplace to fill the gap that people were calling for.” Giles said SPC demonstrated its ability to react quickly and effectively to shifting forces in the local and global marketplace. “Shipping is expensive after going up fourfold and coming in late, all due again to COVID disruptions. There are gaps in supply, yet Coles and Woolworths can call us and have product two days later. We make a lot of sense to them for that reason and
When another wave of COVID-19 hit again in March, the lack of tomato processors became quite obvious.
32 Food&Beverage Industry News | December 2021 | www.foodmag.com.au
