Thomas Foods International (TFI) has taken over full ownership of Victoria-based Frew Foods International, which will be rebranded as Thomas Foods International Stawell. In 2020, TFI acquired a 50 per cent stake in Frew in a deal that provided both Australian companies with growth prospects across key national and international markets.
TFI has now increased its investment to a 100 per cent stake in the 39-year-old company.
The agreement came into effect on 1 July, and will see Frew managing director Robert Frew depart from the business and Frew become a wholly owned subsidiary of the TFI global group of companies. Frew will be rebranded as Thomas Foods International Stawell, with that name change to be formally implemented in the coming weeks.
Frew said the changeover had been a well-planned business transition that secured the long-term future of the Stawell facility and its staff.
“I am leaving the business in extremely strong Australian hands. Our families have known each other well over two generations and since TFI took a 50 per cent stake in the company they have proven to be a fully committed partner that will take this operation well into the future.
“For me personally, this marks the end of a chapter for our family but I leave proud of what we have built over the years and excited for what lies ahead for everyone associated with the Stawell operation,” said Frew.
The Stawell plant, recognised as one of the country’s highest quality smallstock facilities, processes lamb and sheep sourced through saleyards and directly from farmers throughout eastern and central Australia.
As part of this transition TFI is committed to a major upgrade of the facility through a staged and multifaceted investment program of around $100 million. This upgrade will include:
• New cold store and logistics hub incorporating significant automation;
• extension of the lamb boning room incorporating the latest technology;
• new office and upgrade to employee amenities;
• new protein processing plant and a
• new facility to process skins on site.
This significant investment will support an increase in the workforce at Stawell to around 750 full time jobs, providing a boost to the economy in town and the region more broadly.
These investment plans follow the opening of TFI's new meat processing facility in Murray Bridge, South Australia, and its progressing role in a joint venture to develop Australia’s plant processing capacity.
TFI managing director Darren Thomas said exciting plans for Stawell within its national and international operations were on the horizon.
“Robert and his father Arch have created an outstanding local operation which we will look to grow further in the future,” said Thomas.
The strong local management team remains in place at Stawell, led by plant manager Shane Wittmann.
TFI is currently recruiting to further grow the plant’s workforce as it boosts processing capacity with a range of both skilled and entry level positions currently available.
Thomas Foods International is #9 on the Food & Drink Business 2022 Top 100 Food & Drink Companies report.
