It’s not often we get the chance to return to our roots, but in May this year, we did just that by hosting the Casino Beef Week Industry Dinner. Our story started in 1951 at the Casino Food Co-op (formerly the Northern Co-operative Meat Company), when our founder, JR McDonald, commenced work in livestock and cattle buying. The Dinner, a regular on the Casino Beef Week calendar, was a wonderful opportunity to look back at the journey that’s brought the Bindaree team to where we are now, reminisce on our growth, and honour the Australian cattle industry.
The launch of our newest brand, JR The Founder, was a highlight, especially with the presence of John Lee, Bindaree’s first employee from its beginnings in Casino. Following a meal showcasing our finest beef, an industry discussion moderated by Larry Anthony AO was held. Ripley Atkinson of Stone X Group and Bindaree CEO Andrew McDonald delved into various topics, including cattle prices, labour structures, and the future of the cattle industry, offering insights that kept the audience engaged. The night ended with 10 excited guests taking home Bindaree Tomahawk Steaks in a lucky draw.
In line with Bindaree’s Culture of Care, we proudly raised $6,000 for Jumbunna Community Preschool through a live auction led by Alan Ramsey at the dinner and by donating all proceeds from our Beef Week Saturday mechanical bull.
“Casino Beef Week was thrilled to have Bindaree Food Group come on board as a Major Sponsor for Beef Week 2024. Their support has been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing this fantastic partnership in the future. Their involvement has truly elevated Beef Week 2024, and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment to our event and our community.” – Brody Lisha, President, Casino Beef Week.
Bindaree congratulates the Casino Beef Week team for an outstanding celebration. We look forward to next year!
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Pictured left to right: Ryan McDonald (Livestock Manager, Monbeef), Andrew McDonald (CEO, Bindaree Food Group), Matisse McDonald (Boning Room, Bindaree), Larry Anthony AO (SAS Group), Ripley Atkinson (Manager, Australian livestock & commodities Stone X Group), Noeline Olive (Jumbunna Board President), Nerrida Kyle (Head of People & Culture, Bindaree Food Group), Karen McDermott (Jumbunna General Manager), Cheryl Simpkins (Jumbunna Board Secretary), Steve Morrissey (Jumbunna Board Vice President)
Bindaree Food Group operates an innovative paddock-to-plate model, supported by a diverse and committed team across New South Wales and Queensland. A key element of this success is our strategic partnership with FIP Group.
“FIP Group has offered valuable support to tackle the challenges in attracting labor to our primary processing facility in Inverell. We explored various avenues with FIP Group, which included leveraging local recruitment, backpackers, holidaymakers, and more recently, workers from the Pacific Islands under the PALM Scheme,” said Todd Newton, Chief People Officer at Bindaree Food Group.
Creating Positive Impact
The PALM Scheme has allowed Bindaree to welcome over 300 workers from countries like Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea to the team at our Inverell facility. “The PALM Scheme has been wonderful for our business, and I understand for the wider food processing industry as well as the individuals. Without the support of the PALM workers provided by FIP Group, our operational landscape would have looked vastly different,” Todd added.
The scheme also gives individuals the chance to support their families and communities in their home country. Todd highlighted the personal impact, saying, “You hear some great stories about how life-changing these opportunities are. Seeing and hearing these stories personally is truly impactful.”
Watch the video below to meet Isileli Ledua Heleivalu (Dua) form our Myola Feedlot. Dua’s video is a perfect example of how the collaboration and benefits extend into our wider communities.
Expanding Qualifications and Opportunities Across Multiple Sites
PALM Scheme team members have also gained employment at other Bindaree sites, including our Burleigh Heads retail ready facility, Brisbane warehouse, Monbeef processing facility in Cooma and Myola Feedlot at Croppa Creek. This widespread integration indicates the flexibility and broad impact of the PALM Scheme across our business.
The partnership also provides significant skills development among PALM Scheme members. Many start in entry-level roles and progress to senior skilled positions. Bindaree provides the opportunity to gain qualifications such as Certificate II and III in Meat Processing, enhancing their professional growth and employability.
Seamless On-Site Collaboration
The on-site presence at Bindaree of FIP Group’s account management team has been crucial in fostering seamless collaboration. Todd emphasised, “The full employee cycle from start to finish and everything in between is managed really well by the on-site team who work closely with our people team. We see it as one big team working together.”
Driving Success Through Shared Values
“As Bindaree Food Group expands its operations, the partnership with FIP Group remains pivotal. The shared values and strategic alignment between the two organizations continue to drive success and growth,” Todd concluded.
This dynamic partnership not only enhances Bindaree Food Group’s operational capabilities but also supports the professional and personal growth of its diverse workforce, reinforcing the company’s commitment to excellence and community.
Held in Melbourne on Wednesday, March 20th, the Meat Business Women conference centred around the theme ‘The Power Of You,’ aiming to empower participants and equip them with the tools to recognise strengths, step up, speak out, and drive positive change in the meat industry.
Representing Bindaree at the conference were three of our remarkable female leaders: Martha Brandao, Quality Assurance Manager; Phillippa Fleming, Training & Improvement Lead; and Rebecca Kelson, Operations Manager. Each embraced the opportunity to connect with other incredible women in the Australian meat industry and gain insights from industry-leading speakers.
Hear From Our Female Attendees
Philippa shares her experience: “Thank you so much to our business for providing me with the opportunity to attend the Meat Business Women conference. The content and the speakers were sensational, relevant, and on-point in our current market. It was very uplifting and inspiring. There was also a lot of opportunity to network with other women in the meat industry. I have already made contact with some of the women I met at the conference and have been able to continue growing my network within the meat industry. There is so much happening in the support networks of our industry, and it is great to now feel like I am a part of it. I enjoyed it so much! It would be great to attend again”.
Martha reflects on her experience: “I appreciate being nominated to represent Bindaree along with Phillippa and Rebecca. It was an amazing experience for me. I connected with other strong women and came back feeling powerful and capable of being part of the change we need.”
Rebecca adds her thoughts: “The MBW event was an awesome and inspiring gathering for women across the industry. Guest speakers, especially Michelle Redfern (Author of The Leadership Compass) and Kate Dillon (Founder of She Lion and Director of Walk Fearlessly), delivered powerful and inspiring messages with high-energy presentations. Meeting so many wonderful people within our industry and connecting with women who want and have been successful in their careers was truly positive and inspiring. It’s encouraging to see the support and encouragement for women to build and further their careers within the meat industry”
Driving Positive Change For Females In The Meat Industry
Following the successful event, Stacey McKenna, Chair of Meat Business Women Australia and Meat Industry Advisor, shared on LinkedIn: “Thanks to all that attended, our partners and our sponsors. We look forward to continuing to work together to shift the dial to create a more inclusive and supportive meat industry.”
At Bindaree, we’re committed to empowering female leaders and providing opportunities for growth and development. We look forward to celebrating ongoing achievements of our female leaders as they drive positive change in the meat industry and beyond.
Pictured above: Kate Dillon, Founder, She Lion Group and Walk Fearlessly Pty Ltd (left), Stacey McKenna, Chair of Meat Business Women Australia (centre) and Michelle Redfern, DEI Expert & Owner, Advancing Women in Business & Sport.
Pictured below: Martha Brandao, Quality Assurance Manager from Bindaree (left) and Rebecca Kelson, Operations Manager at Bindaree (middle) pictured with Colin McKenna, Managing Director of Midfield Group (left) and Stacey McKenna, Chair of Meat Business Women Australia (right).
Bindaree Food Group hosted a company-wide webinar to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March, 2024, bringing together team members from our various locations, including Brisbane, Burleigh Heads, Cooma, Croppa Creek, Sydney, and Inverell. The webinar showcased updates from our internal leaders and inspiring talks from external guest speakers, Butcher Girl Alison Meagher and World Athlete Bonnie Hancock.
Nerrida Kyle, Head of People & Culture at Bindaree, kicked-off the webinar by noting the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s call for transparency in workplace diversity. Addressing the Australian national gender pay gap of 21%, Bindaree has made a commendable reduction to 10% over the past three years. Nerrida stated that Bindaree is dedicated to fostering inclusivity through initiatives such as expanded parental leave and a flexible workplace policy.
Louise Fitzpatrick, Chief Legal Counsel at Bindaree, continued the conversation by integrating our ESG into the discussion, which drives our commitment to corporate governance and inclusion. Louise confirmed Bindaree had a higher proportion of women promoted to managerial roles compared to men in the last 12 month period and highlighted female representation at a board level of 40%.
Key Speakers Share Career Journeys, Advice, and Inspiration
Butcher Girl Alison shared her inspiring journey from an Angus cattle farm in Victoria to becoming a renowned figure in the meat industry, overcoming gender biases and stereotypes. Despite initial discouragement, Alison’s passion for butchery led her to self-training and mentorship, highlighting the importance of mental resilience for women in the male-dominated meat industry. She expressed admiration for Vivienne Westwood, a fearless British fashion designer.
Bonnie Hancock, a former professional ironwoman turned world record-breaking paddler, shared her extraordinary journey during the webinar. Originating from Sawtell in New South Wales, Bonnie’s early talent in surf lifesaving paved her path to becoming a professional ironwoman on the Gold Coast at the age of 17. Transitioning to specialist ski paddling after a decade in the sport, she found continued success. Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bonnie discovered her passion for long-distance paddling through a book recounting Freya Hoffmeister’s circumnavigation of Australia.
In December 2021, Bonnie embarked on an unprecedented challenge, paddling 12,700 kilometres clockwise around Australia. Her incredible feat shattered the world record for the fastest circumnavigation, both male and female, and she also set a 24-hour record for women, covering an astounding 213 kilometres. Throughout her demanding journey, Bonnie emphasised the vital support of her core crew, comprised of both young men and supportive females, who played pivotal roles in ensuring her safety, providing encouragement, and emotional support.
Paul Wightman, General Manager of Operations at Bindaree, shared stories of working with inspiring female leaders, emphasising the importance of breaking barriers. He highlighted that capability should not be hindered by gender and encouraged individuals to pursue their goals. Paul expressed admiration for Michelle Obama, his resilient chef sister, and his daily inspiration, his wife.
Empowering Webinar Success: Gratitude to All Participants
A big thank you to all the speakers for joining our International Women’s Day celebration! The panel covered essential topics like overcoming gender bias and discussing equal opportunities, focusing on making our workplace more diverse and inclusive. Our webinar aimed to inspire, educate, and contribute to positive changes within our group and the beef industry. Bindaree encourages everyone to #InspireInclusion
Pictured below: Butcher Girl Alison (top) and Bonnie Hancock (bottom).
Bindaree Food Group was honoured to welcome New South Wales Governor, the Honourable Margaret Beazley, to our Inverell facility.
Her Excellency toured the facility, and spoke with staff and management about the very important issue of food security, and learned about the significant contribution Bindaree Food Group makes to the region and the nation. Her Excellency was interested in the company’s history and connection with the region since we started our operations at the Casino Food Co-op in 1981.
Bindaree Food Group CEO Andrew McDonald stated “We were deeply honoured to show Her Excellency around our facility. Although we have facilities in six locations across Australia and offices around the world, we are at our heart a New South Wales regional success story.
“We were pleased to talk with her about our recent and upcoming plant and equipment upgrades, which total around $60 million. I was able to explain how these upgrades benefit regional NSW beef producers by allowing us to compete more strongly on global markets.
“Understandably, Her Excellency was interested in issues such as animal welfare, food safety and environmental compliance, and I was happy to outline Bindaree’s world-standard policies in these areas.
“We also talked about the importance of our mutually beneficial relationships with our producers. For us to be successful we first need them to be successful. All our operations are geared to maximising the financial return we can provide to our producer partners, which means that success at Inverell is success for all of northern New South Wales.”
Pictured above is our Chief People Officer – Todd Newton and CEO – Andrew McDonald with the Governor of NSW.
Pictured below is our Bindaree Beef Processing General Manager – Brad Newman giving the Governor of NSW a tour of our processing facility in Inverell
Our Burleigh Heads facility celebrated five years of operation last year, so we asked our Operations Manager, Rebecca Kelson, to share some of the inner workings of the site.
Commissioned in 2018, Bindaree Food Solutions (BFS) stands as a purpose-built, export-registered processing plant, which proudly serves as our primary retail-ready food manufacturing facility.
Our dedicated team is committed to creating distinct flavours and enhancing retail products through innovative value-add techniques. We have multi-species offerings across a variety of cuts with customised packaging, catering to renowned names in the retail sector domestically and overseas.
The site leads the way with innovative and sustainable flow-wrap packaging, precision vision slicers, automated band saws, and more, our Burleigh Heads facility positions us well in a fast-moving and agile industry.
Our Burleigh team take great pride in celebrating all-things people, especially all the recent five year work anniversaries
We’re excited to announce that we’ve clinched two prestigious accolades from the ALDI Stores Australia 2023 The People Pick Awards! With an impressive 380,000 votes from Aldi customers, our Jindurra Station Porterhouse Steak emerged as the top pick in ‘The BBQ Boss’ category. Additionally, our Specially Selected Australian Beef 21 Days Aged Eye Fillet Steak not only secured the title for ‘The Aussie Made Fave’, Aldi’s newest category, but also claimed the Aldi 2023 Employee Picks Award.
Bindaree Food Group is committed to providing quality products to all our customers. With 23 years of being a foundation beef supplier to Aldi, we are honoured to receive recognition in this year’s People Pick Awards.
Our Head of Supermarkets, Tony McGee says: “It’s always an exciting time to be associated with a successful ALDI strategy, which continues to meet and exceed customer expectations. Congratulations to Annette and her team at ALDI.”
These awards are backed by our team members throughout our supply chain business. It’s their commitment and passion for delivering top-notch products that make these moments possible.
Read more about all the winners in ALDI People’s Picks for 2023 on the ALDI website.
ALDI and Bindaree Food Group’s Eco-Friendly Packaging Partnership:
Bindaree Food Group and ALDI Stores Australia have taken a major step towards environmental responsibility by introducing eco-friendly flow-wrap bags for their beef mince. This switch has reduced plastic usage by an impressive 70%, showcasing their commitment to sustainable practices.
The Journey Towards Eco-Friendly Packaging:
As a dedicated supplier to ALDI, Bindaree Food Group prioritises environmental responsibility. In a packaging trial, they successfully adopted eco-friendly flow-wrap bags for ALDI’s beef mince, significantly reducing plastic waste.
Championing Sustainability – Joseph Hardy’s Contribution:
Joseph Hardy, a skilled Food Technologist at Bindaree Food Group, played a vital role in developing the ground-breaking Flow Wrap technology. His expertise and dedication, along with the Technical team, have set a new benchmark for sustainable packaging.
ALDI’s Commitment to Sustainability:
As a leading supermarket chain, ALDI consistently embraces sustainable practices. By partnering with Bindaree Food Group and adopting eco-friendly flow-wrap bags, ALDI reduces its environmental impact and leading by example for the industry.
The Impact of Eco-Friendly Packaging:
ALDI’s transition to eco-friendly flow-wrap bags for beef mince has led to a remarkable 70% reduction in plastic usage. This achievement benefits the environment by decreasing plastic waste and associated carbon emissions.
Joining Forces for a Greener Future:
The collaboration between ALDI and Bindaree Food Group demonstrates that innovation and collaboration can drive significant progress in reducing plastic waste. Their joint commitment to sustainability sets a benchmark for the retail and food industry, inspiring others to follow suit and contribute to a greener future.
We are thrilled to announce that Bindaree Food Group has acquired the Monbeef processing plant located in the Snowy Mountain region of NSW, from its Japanese owners, S Foods Inc. The acquisition includes the plant, land, and associated assets, which will significantly increase our processing capacity.
The Monbeef plant has an impressive processing capacity and is situated in a prime beef-producing region. This acquisition is a major milestone for us.
At Bindaree, we have been a major player in the Australian beef industry for over 60 years, and this acquisition is a testament to our commitment to expanding our operations and increasing our market share both domestically and internationally. We have always been known for producing high-quality beef products and have a loyal customer base that spans the globe.
Our CEO, Andrew McDonald, is excited about the acquisition and believes that it will enable us to provide even more benefits to our customers, employees, and the wider Australian beef industry.
“We are delighted to add the Monbeef plant to our operations. It is a modern, well-equipped facility, and it will enable us to increase our processing capacity and efficiency. This acquisition will provide significant benefits to our customers, employees, and the wider Australian beef industry,” said Mr McDonald.
The acquisition is expected to be completed in the coming months. We are looking forward to integrating the Monbeef plant into our operations and providing even better service to our customers.in the Snowy Mountain region of NSW
From humble beginnings we’ve grown to deliver tailored protein solutions from the paddock to the plate across Australian and international markets. We are at the forefront of food trends with a global protein network, and believe in a connected, sustainable Australian beef supply chain.
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