Thursday, 30 June, 2011 - 00:00
Gongs for WAMMCO, Sticky Fingers and Restaurant Amuse
PERTH-BASED and regional businesses were among those recognised at three different award ceremonies last week.
The Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative (WAMMCO) has its origins in December 1971 when its predecessor, the Western Australian Lamb Marketing Board (WALMB), was established by the Government of Western Australia. WALMB was evolved out of pressures for a system of orderly marketing from lamb producers exerted mainly through the WA farmer body - the 10,000 member Farmer's Union of WA, now known as WA Farmers.
On 31 July 1999, the Co-operative purchased the Western Australian abattoir assets of Metro Meat International Limited. These assets were the Linley Valley (est. 1027) and Katanning (est. 572) export abattoirs. The majority of the Metro Meat employees transferred to the Co-operative, thus ensuring their considerable processing knowledge and skills were retained.
On 16 August 1999, through the proclamation of the Marketing of Meat Amendment Act 1999, the Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative Limited commenced trading.
The Amendment Act provided for the winding-up of the Corporation and the transfer of its business, assets and liabilities (including the WAMMCO International brand name) to the new Co-operative, which also retained statutory acquisition of export lambs until December 31st 1999. After that date, compulsory acquisition ceased to exist.
The transition from statutory to free market acquisition was not an easy one and the Co-operative commenced a major restructure in October 2000 , including senior management changes and the rationalisation of assets. The Linley Valley abattoir and Spearwood processing plant, together with the West Perth Head Office building, were sold. The Katanning plant was upgraded to a "state of the art" facility producing all the Co-operative's requirements. A decision was also made to build the Co-operative's core business as the "value adding" of premium quality lamb, although the capacity to process mutton, goat and fallow deer remain.
In June 2003 and February 2004 , the Co-operative issued share certificates to just over 1000 lamb producers acknowledging their membership, ownership, democratic control and participation in the Co-operative.
Rank | Company | # | |
---|---|---|---|
6th | ![]() |
Cargill | $650.00m |
7th | ![]() |
Craig Mostyn Group | $619.00m |
9th | - | WAMMCO | $471.00m |
10th | ![]() |
Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative | $470.00m |
Rank | Company | # | |
---|---|---|---|
5th | ![]() |
Catholic Education Western Australia | $1.28bn |
6th | ![]() |
Silverchain | $481.91m |
7th | ![]() |
WAMMCO | $471.00m |
8th | ![]() |
St John WA | $457.91m |
9th | ![]() |
Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative | $438.00m |
Rank | Company | # | |
---|---|---|---|
6th | Viterra | 816 | |
7th | Western Meat Packers | 550 | |
8th | WAMMCO | 500 | |
9th | Milne Agrigroup | 434 | |
10th | KB Australia | 256 |
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NEWS: Tagged in WAMMCO charged over workplace death | 11 Dec 2024 |
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NEWS: Tagged in Appointments November 15, 2024 | 15 Nov 2024 |
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NEW ROLE: Bill O’Keeffe, chairman | 12 Nov 2024 |
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UPDATED: Not For Profit Businesses list | 06 Nov 2024 |
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RANKING: 9 Down from 8 in Agribusiness list | 10 Oct 2024 |
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NEWS: Tagged in Paddock-to-plate farmers lose abattoir | 16 Sep 2024 |
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NEWS: Tagged in Smoothing out profit swings | 19 Aug 2024 |
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NEWS: Tagged in Vale Craig Heggaton | 05 Jul 2024 |
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NEWS: Tagged in WAMMCO showers farmers with record bonus | 02 Jul 2024 |
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NEWS: Tagged in Abattoirs flag growing demand for sheep meat | 20 Jun 2024 |
PERTH-BASED and regional businesses were among those recognised at three different award ceremonies last week.
Producer owned lamb exporter WAMMCO has seen a record four nominations for a vacancy on the cooperative’s board.
Western Australia is leading the country when it comes to the cooperative and mutual business sector, with three local operations named amid the nation’s five largest.
WAMMCO director Rod Madden has retired after more than eleven years on the board.Mr Madden continues to farm at Morawa, and remains a CBH Group director.
Dawson Bradford has retired as chair of the WA Meat Marketing Cooperative after 15 years in the role.
An upgrade to a meat processing plant at Katanning, a chicken feed mill in Muchea, a new piggery at Moora and a live lobster holding facility in Welshpool are the latest in a string of investments that will boost the agribusiness sector in Western Australia.
SPECIAL REPORT: The increased use of technology in one family-owned WA agribusiness is an example of many changes happening in the industry more broadly.
Sheep meat producer WAMMCO has received a $5 million loan for upgrades at its Katanning processing plant as part of the state government’s cooperative loan scheme.
WAMMCO has signed on Queensland-based ReNu Energy to build a 3.1-megawatt bioenergy and solar facility at the sheep meat producer’s Katanning abattoir.
Major WA agribusinesses plan new investments to create scale and efficiency, while smaller operators are cooperating to access new markets with niche products.
The state government has announced new regulations to help boost lamb exports, which hit a record $306 million in 2018.As of next month, young sheep will automatically be defined as lamb if under the age of 12 months and with no teeth in wear.
The state government will provide a $5 million loan to the WA Meat Marketing Cooperative’s Katanning sheep processing plant, amid record sheep meat prices.
Lower demand from Indonesia for WA wheat as well as growing need interstate should lead to a fall in grain export numbers.
Border closures have made it hard for WA agribusinesses to find workers.
Meat processors are confident they can find markets to accommodate more sheep meat products from Western Australia when the federal government’s ban on live exports comes into effect in 2028.
Booming processed meat sales have led to WA abattoir operator WAMMCO paying out a record $21.8 million to its members, more than double last year’s bonus.
WAMMCO chairman Craig Heggaton has died at the age of 63.
OPINION: A number of strategies are available that could help fortify cattle producers and processors against economic shocks and market volatility.
Capacity constraints at one of the last abattoirs offering contract kills have left WA's independent meat industry at risk of collapse.
Our weekly appointments wrap includes Mark Norwell, Bill O’Keeffe, Derek Hays, Brook McGowan, Michael Barnes, Tim Ungar, Charlie Gunningham, and Nathan Drudi.
Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative has been charged over the death of a worker at its Katanning abattoir.
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WAMMCO is included in 2 lists - Agribusiness and Not For Profit Businesses.