News

WMPG has been providing a world-class service and quality products to all of its customers since 1983.

Consequently, our need for quality employees is constant and if you have what it takes to meet our criteria we are always happy to meet you.

Our commitment to eliminate safety hazards in the work place is parallel to our commitment to the exacting standards expected of us with regard to the relevant accreditations demanded by government agencies and our clients alike. As part of that commitment, we recognise our responsibility to constantly strive for good corporate citizenship.

The Western Meat Packers Group is dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable work place for all our employees with a constant emphasis on the standard of training needed to ensure optimum functions.

To let us know about your desire to join us – please send a confidential email outlining your experience and contact details to recruitment@wmpg.com.au

As printed in the Farm Weekly – October 20 – 2022 by Brooke Littlewood

A LAMB symbolises new life and has helped Western Meat Packers Group (WMPG) breathe exactly that into a mothballed Bunbury abattoir.The Goodchild plant, at Australind, was placed into voluntary administration in
2018 and was offered to the market unsuccessfully last September.

With a steadily growing Margaret River Fresh lamb brand, WMPG saw an opportunity to further penetrate the market place and have more control over its offering.

The new acquisition would also continue to extend the enterprise’s diversity and boost its steady regrowth, after a catastrophic fi re in 2009. Similar to the company’s value-added beef off erings, WMPG chief executive officer Andrew Fuda said there was
massive scope for value-adding in the prime lamb market.

Mr Fuda said a strong relationship with retailers – both domestic and international – presented a ready market to provide a strong lamb off ering.

It is at a time when WA meat processors are either closing their doors or opening new ones amid labour shortages, storage issues and throughput.

But Mr Fuda said such challenges may have eased by the time the plant was fully operational, with the intent of processing 2500 sheep per day.

“Given the current construction workload it is likely to take every part of two years to get the plant operational and to our standards,” Mr Fuda said.

“The severe labour shortages may have appeased by then.

“Nevertheless, among our current workforce there is considerable interest in staff willing to shift down (to Bunbury) and undergo a degree of tree change.”

Mr Fuda said WMPG’s methodology was to substantially automate the operation with on the ground support of 150 workers.

Such automation would include minimising manual handling of carcases, which has already been installed at the company’s Cowaramup plant.

“This has led to dramatic improvement in efficiencies and employer satisfaction,” he said.

“Even though we have just settled fi nancially on the acquisition, we have already commenced planning on the plant upgrades and our consultants are undertaking preliminaries.”

With the acquisition WMPG has substantially expanded operations close to Bunbury and the prime cattle and lamb grazing regions.

Owners and directors Rod and Shana Russell are confident the new asset will combine well with existing operations.

They are committed to exploring the facility’s enhancement to obtain a tier two export accreditation.

Mr Fuda said the new facility was comprehensively fitted with beef and sheep chains and chillers.

He said there was suitable capacity for 3000 sheep, or 1500 sheep and 200 cattle combined.

It also has a self-sufficient water source including a reverse osmosis plant, existing spacious undercover yards with specification pens for contract butchering and is designed to comply with Halal requirements.

The article as it appeared in the Farm Weekly can be viewed HERE.

As reported in Beef Central https://www.beefcentral.com/processing/was-western-meat-packers-buys-bunbury-beef-sheepmeat-plant/

The Western Meat Packers Group (WMPG) are delighted to announce its successful acquisition of the former Goodchild Abattoirs in Australind, Western Australia.

Proudly family owned since 1983, the WMPG carries a strong legacy in supplying trusted, quality beef and lamb products to the Western Australian and International retail markets. With this acquisition the WMPG has now substantially expanded its operations in close proximity to Bunbury, and the prime cattle and lamb grazing regions.

Owners and Directors Rod and Shana Russell are confident the new asset will combine well with current operations and are committed to exploring the enhancement of the facility in obtaining a Tier 2 Export Accreditation.

WMPG CEO Andrew Fuda said that the newly acquired facility is comprehensively fitted with beef and sheep chains and chillers, with suitable capacity for 3000 sheep, or 1500 sheep and 200 cattle combined.  It also has a self-sufficient water source and includes a reverse osmosis plant. The facility offers existing spacious undercover yards with specification pens for contract butchering and is designed to comply with Halal requirements.

From modest beginnings as a small boning room and after many years of dedicated hard work, WMPG is now a successful fully integrated domestic and export operation. After a catastrophic fire at WMPG in 2009, this new acquisition will continue to extend the diversity of the whole enterprise and continue to boost the steady regrowth of WMPG.

Behind this consistent growth exists a strong infrastructure across its operations which employs a dedicated workforce of over 550 people. The divisions cover an abattoir and farm in Cowaramup, a state-of-the-art boning and packing facility in Osborne Park, a specialist hi-tech packing facility at Bibra Lake, Perth Skin and Hides in Coogee and the ever-popular ‘wholesale direct to public’ WA Big Butcher outlet which contains the largest Dry Age fridge in Western Australia.

Western Meat Packers Group has welcomed last week’s WA Government $300,000 grant which will help facilitate further processing of offal and other products at its Western Meat Processors’ Cowaramup abattoir operation as part of a $10 million expansion of its integrated operations.

WMPG CEO Andrew Fuda said that investing in this new manufacturing capability would help fully maximise yields from each beef animal and open up new markets, resulting in at least 50 full time new jobs and a host of indirect opportunities for the company and the local community.

“We’ve identified strong demand from our existing customers in Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, plus we’re optimistic we’ll receive export license approval for China, a key target in our marketing strategy,” he said.

“I sincerely thank the State Government and Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan for their support and recognition of regional businesses such as our’s.

“I also acknowledge the high level planning and logistics by Western Meat Processors General Manager Jamie Warburton and his very professional and dedicated team at Cowaramup.”

WMPG’s Cowaramup operation has methodically built its operational capacity over the past 15 years to 70,000 cattle per annum, with most selected from south-west beef producers and distributed domestically and internationally under the Margaret River Fresh brand.

Proudly WA family owned, WMPG has transformed from modest beginnings in 1983 as a small boning room to be one of Australia’s most trusted beef and lamb exporters and processors.

Employing almost 500 people, WMPG now has a weekly processing capacity of 2000 cattle and 1000 lambs that are supplied to domestic and international markets.

FHA-Food & Beverage is known for placing a spotlights on tech innovation and industry transformation in food.

This year WMPG will be once again on display and we invite you attend our booth by visiting us at Booth 8B3-10

From novel farming methods to connected kitchens, the technological and investment potential in the food tech space has grown dynamically in recent years.

In Singapore, the government, in building a food tech startup ecosystem as part of the nation’s plan to become an innovation hub for Asian food and agriculture sectors, is encouraging companies, from food and beverage corporations, to agri-food entrepreneurs and start-ups to invest in the development of
innovative solutions from food production to distribution.

We are excited to be amongst this company and will showcase our Margaret River Fresh brand and produce.

This November marks 10 years since a fire caused by an electrical fault burnt Western Meat Packers Group’s O’Connor, Western Australia, factory to the ground. Continue Reading

The Perth Royal Food Awards have become an important part of the agricultural industry in WA and carry longstanding traditions dating back over 150 years.

They were established as a part of the mission of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) to encourage and reward excellence and support a viable and prosperous future for agricultural communities.

With the support and guidance from independent and skilled judges, committee members, volunteers and exhibitors, the Perth Royal Food Awards have rapidly expanded with new competitions and categories being released each year based on consumer and industry trends.

The Perth Royal Branded Beef Awards were introduced in 2018 and WMPG were successful with being awarded a Gold Medal for its Grass Fed Beef. This year in 2019 it continued it’s winning ways in this category with a Silver medal for our Margaret River Fresh Brand.

WMPG also received a Bronze medal in the Grain Fed Beef category for Margaret River Fresh.

The Perth Royal Food Awards are judged by a selection of local, national and international specialist judges who are recognised as experts in their relevant industries.

TV Chef Adrian Richardson from Melbourne’s La Luna Bistro restaurant shared his thoughts on how to cook a perfect steak with hundreds of cattle producers at the 2019 Angus Australia conference in Albury.

La Luna Bistro is a Melbourne institution. Chef Adrian Richardson’s focus on fresh, well-handled food and relaxed, informed service has stood for twenty years.

News of Western Meat Packers Group exhibition at the recent Food and Hotel Exhibition in Vietnam has been well received.

The event in its 10th year is an international trade fair for food, beverages, hotels, bakery, restaurants, catering and equipment and the WMPG’s Margaret River Fresh brand was front and centre in the exhibition. Chief Executive Andrew Fuda made the decision to showcase Margaret River Fresh produce at the exhibition for a second year based on the fabulous reaction from the last time. According to Andrew “Margaret River Fresh branded beef was leading the way by giving its customers a taste sensation second to none. We’ve always made a point of taking every opportunity to spend time with customers and prospects in all of our export markets.

You can download and read a Farm Weekly article about WMPG at Food Hotel Vietnam by CLICKING HERE.

WMPG are on the road promoting it’s exclusive Margaret River Fresh brand at the Vietnam Food and Hospitality Industry event on the 24th though to the 26th of April.

This event represents the 10th anniversary of the Food and Hotel Vietnam event. The event is held at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh, District 7, HCMC.

If you are in town drop in and see us at Stand AC3-04.