Almondco

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:30): I rise today to talk about a 70^th birthday that I attended over the weekend, and it really was quite a celebration. It was, of course, Almondco's 70^th birthday. It was celebrated at their 'newer' facility just out of Renmark, and it is a world-class facility. The Almondco business originally started in Adelaide, where it had a couple of destinations, and it used to process a small industry, a boutique industry, as it was once upon a time. Some of the historians on the weekend said that back in those days they used to crack the almonds individually, one by one, to process them and get them out to market. However, in today's world, Almondco is one of the world leading processors and marketers and, proudly, it is in the electorate of Chaffey.

It is a regional success story, where it has come from in its humble beginnings to where it is today. It started exporting in about 1996, and it started producing about $50 million worth of turnover. In today's climate it is turning over about $170 million. Its exports have increased up to around 40 per cent of its product. A lot of those markets are now newer markets into the UK, Europe, and particularly into the Middle East, India and Japan, where they seem to perform well in some of the big markets that Almondco are sending their product to. Russia is one of the new destinations and is also looming as one of the new drawcard markets.

Almondco employs about 500 seasonal workers, so it really is a regional heartbeat to the region of the Riverland. It has about 100 full-time staff. That employment base is underpinned by 140 growers, who are obviously vital to the region's economy. More importantly, almonds are probably one of the most buoyant horticultural crops grown in a large quantity sector. As Almondco expanded its business over the last 20 years, I drove past it from home to one of my orchards, it was always mind blowing and eye-opening to see the new extension, the new expansion.

Of course, the latest expansion was the pasteuriser, a $4 million investment that now makes their entire product. As some of you here today would know, in harvesting almonds they are shaken off the tree onto the ground, they are swept into windrows, and then they are picked up. In doing that, they incur some bacteria and disease, so almonds are now processed through that pasteuriser, and it makes them a safe product. It has also increased that investment. A $4 million investment has picked up $40 million worth of new market investment. I think that is a great investment. Global consumption of almonds is outstripping supply.

On the Sunday, not only the CEO but the board of directors were there. I commend not only Brenton Woolston, the CEO of Almondco, who is the face of the business, but also the board for its vision because, over the last 20 years, at their new facility at Renmark, their vision has led the rest of the world. The way they produce their new products and how they present and market their products, they are a world leader, so it really is a great attribute to the almond industry.

What they are doing with their leading technology is that they are bringing the rest of the market with them. Being world leaders, they are also bringing other almond-marketing businesses, particularly Nut Producers Australia, with them, and they are working and moving forward at a great rate of knots. It is great to see. I would like to acknowledge the Lacey family for their foresight many years ago. Andrew is the deputy chair at the minute, and his vision has been exemplary. Anyone in this house who is passing through the Riverland, do drop in to Almondco and visit the Almond Hut.

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