HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
SUSTAINABLE PROTEIN IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE A food processing manufacturer of global proportions, Chief Operating Officer of Hilton Foods APAC, Pat McEntee, discusses championing ethics and the value of true partnership Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Ben Weaver
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FOOD & DRINK Food is a big part of our lives; it’s what brings people together. Food is about family, it’s about special occasions - food is about fun.” The above statement from Pat McEntee, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of food processing manufacturer Hilton Foods Group’s (HFG) APAC operations, touches on the passion for protein that lies at the very foundation of the company. A vast enterprise with a global presence spanning 17 facilities across ten different countries, HFG has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings operating a sole beef and lamb central meat packing facility in Huntingdon, UK. “HFG’s history is truly a wonderful story that began in the UK in 1994 supplying case ready meat product exclusively for Tesco,” McEntee explains. “If we look at the business today, some 27 years on, we now operate food manufacturing facilities throughout the world, from Ireland, through the UK to Europe, on to Australia and now, New Zealand.”
A GLOBAL ENTERPRISE HFG first established its footprint in the southern hemisphere in 2012 following the reopening of the Bunbury Meat Centre in Western Australia, where the company was tasked with supplying consumer ready packs to Woolworths Group supermarkets. The move was born from a joint venture between HFG and Woolworths Group, who remains the company’s exclusive regional retail partner. “Woolworths had made the decision to transition from in store meat departments to centrally prepared consumer packs, and HFG were the chosen partner,” McEntee informs us. To this day, McEntee credits the successful nature of this working relationship with the company’s APAC Outlook issue 51 | 3
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ongoing success across facility in Brisbane, the region, as the prime Queensland in 2019 to embodiment of the HFG meet the demands of partnership model that Woolworths’ northern centres on one core supply chain represented partnership in each region the culmination of it operates in, thereby fully this commitment to a embracing the philosophy technologically advanced of total partnership. operation. “Our partnership with “Heathwood is the Woolworths is of critical jewel in our crown from Pat McEntee, Chief Operating importance to us and it’s a a technology point of Officer (COO) true partnership model in view and in terms of that we’re very much integrated into size and volume,” he comments. each other’s supply chain, running Following the acquisition of assets shoulder to shoulder in partnership on for both Truganina and Heathwood a daily basis,” he comments. in 2020, HFG now operates these Subsequently, Hilton went on to facilities independently, with further commission their flagship operation expansion imminent. at Truganina in Melbourne, Victoria in Our discussion takes place at a 2015, a site that McEntee describes time of great excitement for HFG, just as being at the real “forefront of weeks prior to the launch of a worldAustralian innovation”, thanks to the class food park in Wiri, Auckland, facility’s incorporation of automated New Zealand, thereby further logistics. “Technology and automation strengthening the Woolworths are a key part of our DNA,” he adds. partnership, and charting new ground With the company priding itself on in terms of geographical expansion, state-of-the art facilities guaranteeing but also more significantly, innovation manufacturing excellence, HFG’s in providing unprecedented scale for opening of the Heathwood the company.
A BUTCHER’S BACKGROUND Standing as an industry expert, having turned his hand to many aspects of the food supply chain, Pat McEntee’s career in food began as a 15 year-old with an apprenticeship at a butcher’s shop in a small town in New South Wales (NSW), To this day, McEntee credits this experience as truly foundational in learning “the quality of livestock” providing a solid “paddock to plate” understanding of meat production. Prior to joining HFG in 2018, McEntee spent over thirty years with the Woolworths Group, working across supermarkets first as a butcher, then as a Meat Manager before progressing to senior roles including Director of Woolworths Meat Co and Director of Supermarket Operations, presiding over 960 supermarkets and over 114,000 team members across Australia. Following McEntee’s engagement as the Managing Director for Woolworths New Zealand, the opportunity arose to transition to the role of Chief Operating Officer leading the HFG joint venture for the APAC business.
Ecowize Hilton Foods and Ecowize, a partnership that extends across the Tasman Hilton Foods has flourished in the Australian market; for 5 years Ecowize has been a proud partner of choice throughout the Australian journey servicing Hilton Foods’ state of the art production facilities in Brisbane, Heathwood since 2020 and Melbourne, Truganina since 2015, Ecowize is thrilled to embark on the next phase of the Hilton expansion in Auckland, New Zealand which will exclusively supply 140+ Countdown supermarkets. Ecowize is the most recognised international cleaning and sanitation services and equipment provider in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and North America servicing 150+ client sites globally; and was the first cleaning solutions provider in the food industry to be accredited to ISO Food Safety 22000. Ecowize’s mission has been to work in partnership with Hilton Foods having unmatched service delivery and scalability, working across several Hilton Foods greenfield sites. Having been given the opportunity to showcase its expertise, at the Southern Auckland Food Park; Ecowize is working closely with the Hilton Foods NZ team to implement efficient cleaning methods for the production, warehouse, office and amenities and periodical cleaning programs. The service delivery will encompass staff training, best practice cleaning applications and technologies, strong supervision and management. Peter Maibom, the Managing Director of Ecowize said “As the Auckland Food Park introduces a wider portfolio of products into the processing lines, such as seafood products, the Hilton Foods and Ecowize partnership has grown from strength to strength with both parties continuously evolving. Ecowize is looking forward to working together with Hilton Foods to protect the Hilton Foods brand delivering high performance and high compliance cleaning solutions.”
www.ecowize.com.au
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HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
A HILTON FOODS GROUP FIRST: THE WIRI FOOD PARK, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Launching in 2021, this innovative new facility showcases unparalleled versatility and scale by processing both traditional meat protein, alongside extended value-added products including poultry and seafood to provide scale and critical mass, in comparison to the ‘single species’ sites that HFG currently operate in APAC. Leveraging a high degree of automated logistics whilst attaining the lowest cost of operation, the Wiri Food Park has the ability to process some 500 tonnes of products a week, in comparison to HFG’s existing Truganina and Heathwood facilities, which process in the region of 1,200-1,600 tonnes a week. “We see this food park as the blueprint for future models that we are exploring and initiating here in New Zealand” - Pat McEntee, COO, Hilton Foods Group APAC
Wiri Food Park, Auckland, New Zealand
“We’re incredibly excited about opening our new facility in Auckland, which will be our first food park.” Leading with a consumer centric focus, the exciting geographical growth of HFG’s operations is complimented by their ever-growing roster of innovative products and expanding capabilities in order to surpass customer demand. Four years ago, the company’s acquisition of SeaChill – the largest seafood packaged business in the UK, introduced a new range of protein that continues to represent a major aspect of the business today. “We also have a joint venture with Dalco, an alternative protein manufacturer based in the Netherlands, and a technology company called Foods Connected, which began with a meat focus on yield management, purchasing and quality programmes which is continually expanding into new technologies,” McEntee tells us. “Innovation is key to the growth of protein, within both Woolworths supermarkets and for us. This means staying close to the customer, consumer insights and data in developing products that are in line with our customers’ expectations,” he explains. It is the wealth of expertise and the all-encompassing nature of HFG’s global operations that truly differentiates their position in the industry.
Namour Transport Namour Transport provides innovative solutions to your transport and warehousing needs. Established in 2010 with one truck, purpose built to be able to provide a variety of transport requirements to national recognition for living up to their motto “We Make it Happen”. The success of Namour Transport is due to their friendly and experienced staff and their ability to understand the needs and requirements of their customers. What makes Namour Transport unique is the people on the team. The company was built on good old country family values and maintains these values with caring for their customers and understanding their needs. Caring for their community is a large part of who they are supporting local sporting teams and community organisations. Namour Transport provides an extensive array of transport services from refrigerated through to general freight as well as dry and cold storage facilities. They are a one stop transport shop offering innovative solutions to moving freight quickly and efficiently nationwide helping our customers to save on time, resources and the pressures of logistics. Our warehouse facility offers both long- and short-term storage in a secure environment. Extensive quality control ensures stock rotation via batch number or date. Product scanning systems provide real time stock reporting according to customer needs and expectations. The Namour Transport vehicles are meticulously maintained and reliable with professional operators. With a commitment to operational safety, the accredited late model fleet ensures the delivery of freight exceeds customer expectations. By partnering with our customers including Hilton Foods Group Australia, and building solid working relationships through communication, trust and reliability. Namour Transport prides itself on being one of the best logistics providers in the industry. Contact us to talk about your transportation and storage needs. We will work alongside you to identify practical solutions to ensure your product is warehoused and delivered in perfect condition.
www.namourtransport.com.au
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We offer Transport along with cold and dry storage • • • • • • • • • • •
Modern fleet of trucks including Body Trucks, Single and multi-trailer combinations including B-Doubles and Road Trains Australia wide deliveries using refrigerated, taught liners and flat top trailers. NHVR Accredited/ Safe Food accredited trailers A one-stop shop for transportation and warehousing for both temperature controlled and dry goods. Single point of contact for all transport and all warehousing requirements. Software allows real time traceability on all stock. Stock on hand reporting as needed at any time All pallets are scanned to location in the warehouse to ensure correct date rotation and capability of picking by batch number. Broad range of capabilities including cross docking, labelling, bundling, packing Proven experience and knowledge in warehousing and transport both locally and Australia wide. Safe Food Accredited Storage/Woolworths Supplier Excellence Accredited.
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HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND “INNOVATION IS KEY TO THE GROWTH OF PROTEIN, WITHIN BOTH WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKETS AND FOR US. THIS MEANS STAYING CLOSE TO THE CUSTOMER, CONSUMER INSIGHTS AND DATA IN DEVELOPING PRODUCTS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS’ EXPECTATIONS” – PAT MCENTEE, COO, HILTON FOODS GROUP APAC As McEntee attests, “the key thing about HFG, operating 17 facilities across 10 different countries, is that we are truly bringing world’s best practice to our customers. We gather a lot of data and consumer insights and are constantly learning about the products that work best for certain markets. “With a constant flow of information across the our business globally, we are unique in being able to access best practice and genuine insights to support our customers in each market.”
QUALITY, NATURALLY A defining aspect of HFG is their laudable approach to ethics and nonnegotiable standards of responsible meat production, as a member of both the Food Network for Ethical Trade, and a founding member of the Seafood Ethical Action Alliance, amongst others. A stringent corporate social responsibility programme, ‘Quality Naturally’, is embedded into all facets of operation and partnership across customers and suppliers. This ambitious approach entails eight strategic pillars that are integral 8 | APAC Outlook issue 51
THE HFG EIGHT PILLAR STRATEGY OUR PEOPLE – HFG’s people are proud to be part of the business through the company’s contribution to community, environment and how they are treated in the workplace. HFG embrace local creativity and grow and develop their people to be the best they can. SUSTAINABLE PROTEINS - Leading collaboration of environmental sustainability for the company’s key animals and crops. Shaping and guiding supply chain agendas and uptake at scale. Building a narrative for the sustainability of each of the company’s key proteins. PACKAGING – Innovate to reduce plastic, maximise recycling and the use of sustainable packaging across the value chain. Using scale to drive transformational development of retail packaging materials aligned to circular economy recycling infrastructures. RESOURCEFUL FACTORIES – Reducing environmental impact by resource efficiency and carbon reduction. TRANSPARENCY – Developing industry leading transparency solutions and openly reporting HFG’s responsible business progress to strengthen trust in the industry. ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE – Collaborating with suppliers, retailers, and NGO’s to improve the lives of animals and reduce the use of antibiotics. ETHICAL SUPPLY CHAINS – Collaborative action to improve the lives of workers across the company’s supply chains. CONSUMER HEALTH INNOVATION – Ensuring consumers can make balanced choices that are healthy for them and the planet.
Proudly West Australian. Family owned and operated.
Working in unison to develop and implement cleaning and hygiene systems in the food industry. Partners with Hilton Food Australia since 2013. Unison Systems have achieved 100% of HFA stringent KPI’s 100% of the time. sue.netts@unisonsystems.com.au 0418 315 188 • • • • • •
Food safety Increased shelf life of product Decreased energy use Decreased water use Decreased effluent Increased efficiencies and profit for both parties
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
“OUR PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON TOTAL PARTNERSHIP, WITH OUR TEAM, OUR SUPPLIERS, OUR CUSTOMER. THEREFORE, TRANSPARENCY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. WE ARE VERY OPEN IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CUSTOMER AND OUR SUPPLY PARTNERS AND ENSURE THAT THERE IS TRANSPARENCY AT EVERY STAGE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN” - PAT MCENTEE, COO, HILTON FOODS GROUP APAC to the company’s reputation and success, whilst demonstrating an awareness of HFG’s social, ethical, and environmental responsibility. Foremost under this programme is HFG’s commitment to its’ people, as part and parcel of the Hilton promise to both measure and reduce the impact of their own operations, whilst improving the lives of those who make and consume their products. “Our philosophy is based on total 10 | APAC Outlook issue 51
partnership, with our team, our suppliers, our customer. Therefore, transparency is critically important. We are very open in our relationship with our customer and our supply partners and ensure that there is transparency at every stage of the supply chain,” McEntee highlights. This notion of ‘total partnership’ returns to the paramount advantage and commitment of maintaining exclusive, long-term agreements and
relationships with a single partner depending on the region of operation – in this case, the Woolworths Group, thereby ultimately guaranteeing heightened reliability based on earning trust through performance. “We’re extremely privileged to be a trusted partner to Woolworths and to play a part in their supply chain, delivering great quality products in Australia and New Zealand to their consumers,” he adds. For McEntee, the value of such robust partnerships forming the bedrock of business was instilled during the early days of his career, and is something that he maintains within HFG today. “I look back on my days at Woolworths and feel proud of nurturing partnerships with a lot of Australian producers across the supply network – whether in meat, seafood or dairy amongst others,” he comments.
For over 37 years Vacupack has become the go-to packaging manufacturer for food companies that can’t afford excuses. We have done this by helping local and global FMCG brands create perfectly formed plastic packaging with exceptional results. Companies that need packaging that works smoothly on their production lines from the 1st run to the last.
That’s why one of Australia’s largest meat processors, Hilton Foods Australia, has selected Vacupack to manufacture and supply its VSP trays made of 100% PCR rPET. For the past few years, the “Circular Economy” has been Vacupack’s top priority. We have been working on perfecting Functionality, Sustainability & the Commercial Reality using all our knowledge…We did it!
The world has seen major changes during the past 4 decades, but none more so than the current one, with far more education & awareness around sustainability, recycling and cost. Consumers are demanding sustainable, small footprint packaging. The pressure is mounting on brand owners to meet this challenge and get their packaging portfolio in order. 2025 is approaching fast.
Vacupack is pleased to announce that over the coming 12 months over 70% of our packaging will be manufactured from 100% PCR rPET. All our PCR is GRS certified and FDA approved for food contact use, so when you buy PCR packaging from Vacupack you can be confident that it came from the right sources and is safe for your customers and your brand. Today rPET sits alongside quality, innovation and service, completing our core value proposition ensuring Vacupack’s place as Australia’s leading thermoformer. If you’re considering rPET for your own packaging then consider Vacupack.
www.vacupack.com.au
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
VEMAG Flexible Fresh Meat Line from VEMAG - Knowing and meeting the customers’ requirements Partnerships and exchange at eye level play a central role at VEMAG. They promote innovation and success not only on the part of the machine manufacturer, but also on the part of the food producers. The aspiration to support our customer Hilton Food Group in the best possible way initiated the development of the Flexible Fresh Meat Line.
“I have always nurtured and focused on working towards mutually beneficial partnerships for supply partners in business.” As a business-to-business brand, HFG work directly with their customers as leading food retailers in order to serve the needs of the consumer. The company’s membership in various collaborative bodies and analytic, consumer centric approach, means that a great deal of energy is dedicated to gathering customer insights, and analysing consumer trends, ensuring that the people and processes behind HFG’s supply chain is effectively designed around the priorities of their retail partner. By working intrinsically with their chosen partner in local markets, HFG guarantee sustainable growth. A key part of such discussions within these industry bodies pertains to the paramount importance of maintaining ethical recruitment 12 | APAC Outlook issue 51
practices. The team behind the brand are an integral component to HFG’s successes, with recruitment and the ability to attain the best talent determining the future of the business. “Our team are very important to us. We are really passionate about caring for them deeply and ensuring that we comply to the highest ethical standards,” McEntee continues. “We invest a lot in our team and have a fantastic platform in the APAC business with our people learning platform, called ‘Sucseed’. We have constant upskilling amongst our team with role specific training but also an additional platform for our team members to elect for additional training personal to them. Training, development and upskilling is a really important part of what we do that benefits and continually ensures we are operate best practices in our factories.”
The cooperation with the Hilton Food Group began with the use of a VEMAG solution for the production of minced meat. It quickly became apparent that there were further needs to process other fresh meat products. Whereas previously several mono production lines were needed to produce different products, the flexible line can run various products on the same line. The vacuum filling machine with separation grinder is located in a fixed place, as is the loading system. The simple exchange of attachments of the same length in the existing line opens up completely new production possibilities. Be it the MMP223 for the production of minced meat, the FSL210 for the production of fresh sausage or the Automatic Meatball Loader AML273, a patented VEMAG solution for the forming and depositing of meatballs into different tray formats without the use of staff, efficiency and variety always come first. The savings are impressive both in terms of investment costs and the space required. A loading system (SL305/306) is integrated in the flexible line and places the minced meat portions or burgers into trays for example and feeds them for further processing. Additionally, the line is equipped with a scale, the Check Weigher VPC716. The precise weight control reduces give away and thus increases profit. A look at the development of the Flexible Fresh Meat Line shows how valuable a lively and cooperative contact with customers is. VEMAG would like to thank Hilton Foods Group for the great cooperation and looks forward to exciting new discussions and developments.
www.vemag.com
FRESH MEAT PRODUCTS WITH VEMAG Flexible Fresh Meat Line for the production of a great variety of products on a single line. Highest efficiency, maximum flexibility. Trusted partner of Hilton Food Group - Partnership at eye level. More information: www.vemag.com or e-mail@vemag.de
www.vemag.com
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
alltasksIT alltasksIT is a renowned IT systems integrator that implements hardware, software and support solutions for SMBs and large corporations. alltasksIT invests heavily in resources, assets and people - particularly in new and emerging technologies, including virtualisation, cloud storage, private data centre infrastructure solutions, mobile computing and network security integration, as well as compliance and optimisation. The team at alltasksIT can deliver a full range of IT solutions and introduce a comprehensive range of products tailored to the customer’s specific requirements. The organisation supports its customers in designing agile, innovative workspaces while leveraging new and emerging technologies to embrace change and achieve the best practical outcome.
info@alltasks.com.au www.alltasks.com.au
HFG prides itself on being an inclusive organisation founded on respect and wellbeing, committed to equal opportunities and progressive career development. One such example includes HFG’s membership in ‘Meat Business Women’ - a global professional networking movement dedicated to women looking to climb the ranks of the meat industry. Regularly conducted culture and engagement surveys ensure continual monitoring and improvement, contributing to happy, motivated, employees bringing that passion to their work that is at the heart of HFG and the food they produce. “In both Truganina and Heathwood, we have canteen facilities that are subsidised to focus on healthy, fulfilling and nutritious dietary requirements, which is just one example of our team benefit strategies,” McEntee explains.
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SAFEGUARDING SUSTAINABILITY A key pillar of HFG’s responsible outlook is the company’s approach to sustainability, both in terms of the longevity and robust nature of its partnership model, and its commitment to the environment. This laudable awareness of mitigating environmental impact is primarily evidenced through the company’s commitments to improved packaging, waste management, and the advanced facilities in which they operate. HFG are dedicated to continually assessing and reducing the impacts of their operations and openly report on their progress in all fields pertaining to the Quality Naturally programme, in line with the company’s reputation of industry-leading transparency, on platforms such as the Carbon Disclosure Portal. The packaging of products is one particular area where HFG have taken
CHEP CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organisation on earth. Its pallets and containers form the invisible backbone of the global supply chain and the world’s biggest brands trust CHEP to help transport their goods more efficiently, sustainably, and safely. As pioneers of the sharing economy, CHEP created one of the world’s most sustainable logistics businesses through the share and reuse of its platforms under a model known as ‘pooling’. CHEP primarily serves the fastmoving consumer goods, fresh produce, beverage, retail, and general manufacturing industries in approximately 60 countries.
www.CHEP.com
FOOD & DRINK
CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organisation on earth.
Its pallets and containers form the invisible backbone of the global supply chain and the world’s biggest brands trust CHEP to help transport their goods more efficiently, sustainably, and safely.
In 2020, environmental savings in CHEP’s customers’ supply chains in comparison to single-use alternatives 2.0 million tonnes of CO2 2,500 megalitres of water 1.7 million cubic metres of wood 1.8 million trees 1.3 million tonnes of waste
www.CHEP.com
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HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Crowley Carbon Australia Part of the Cool Planet Group, a global team with a proven track record of delivering energy savings for some of the world’s largest energy users. We can typically deliver a 20-30% reduction in energy with a 2-3yr payback. Through our collaborative partnership with Hilton Foods (spanning 9 sites in 7 countries) we deliver a range of services, completing energy conservation projects across 3 sites which have already delivered >$800,000 per annum in sustained energy savings.
Heathwood Site Brisbane, Australia
For more information on how Crowley carbon Australia can help you in your energy journey, please contact us: admin.au@crowleycarbon.com
admin.au@crowleycarbon.com
great strides, founded entirely on achieving the aim of circular economy recycling infrastructures and minimising the footprint of packaging in both production and use across the supply chain. “We were the first to launch the paper seal tray in Australia exclusively for Woolworths,” McEntee tells us.
“WE REALLY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR PACKAGING” - PAT MCENTEE, COO, HILTON FOODS GROUP APAC
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By December 2021, across both Australia and New Zealand, all HFG trays, (MAP and VSP) will be 100 percent curb side recyclable. “We are also working on having all of our soft plastic and film redcycled, and we’re looking further into technology to work on that for the future,” he adds. Across HFG, the company endeavours for all retail packaging to be fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2022, with a minimum of 50 percent average recycled content across all plastic packaging. This ensures that the company’s suppliers also remain aligned with HFG’s sustainability objectives. At present, 98 percent of HFG beef mince is packaged in recyclable mono plastic trays, while 100 percent of all paper and board is sustainably sourced. This model continues to be measured in partnership with the Carbon Trust.
Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) is a global food packaging manufacturer with one of its key sites in Melbourne, VIC that makes sustainable and recyclable packaging for the fresh food sector. Melbourne was established in 2015, with 75 employees and have state-ofthe-art extruding and thermoforming equipment for packaging, using postconsumer recycled PET. Supplying the fresh protein market into top food retailers across Australia. kp’s experts work with the whole supply chain to create innovative rigid films for form, fill & seal applications and food trays, not only providing the best product safety, but also extending shelf life to help reduce food waste. To find out more about kp and their products, you can visit kp’s website: kpfilms.com Klöckner Pentaplast 28 Distribution Drive Truganina, Victoria 3029 Australia
FOOD & DRINK
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Crowley Carbon Australia is your partner for energy in APAC. Drawing on expertise in both commercial and industrial systems, our passionate local team offer a full range of services:
Data-Driven Commissioning Accelerate the process of identifying, then rectifying, early failures and issues on your new-built facility
For more information email us: admin.au@crowleycarbon.com Or find us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/crowley-carbon-australia
Project Financing Our finance model offers very competitive rates to implement your energy savings project without the requirement of upfront capital
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kp Elite® offers this modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) solution for fresh protein that delivers end-to-end sustainability. This award-winning product is made with up to 100% recycled PET (rPET), which is recyclable, highly efficient, reduces food waste and extends shelf life.
28 Distribution Drive, Truganina VIC 3029 T: +61 (03) 9219 4301 | E: customerservicesaus@kpfilms.com | W: kpfilms.com
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APAC Outlook issue 51 | 17
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Of equal importance to HFG is the reduction of waste. The company are committed as a ‘Friend of Champions 12.3’ - an initiative that is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Target 12.3 by 2030, which aims at halving per capita global food waste. This encompasses reducing food losses across production and the supply chain. As such, all food waste is monitored and reported at every HFG site. “We are constantly looking at food and packaging waste and identifying ways to improve, reduce and eliminate food waste, alongside all other elements of waste across our sites,” McEntee affirms. The company is alert to the carbon emissions savings potential of reduction in food, water and packaging waste, with all internal operations and processes geared towards this end, as reflected by the HFG ‘War on Waste’ internal operations efficiency programme, launched at the end of 2020.
HFG’s ‘Resourceful Factories’ are the true embodiment of HFG’s sustainability commitment and represent the most efficient solutions in the industry. Across HFG’s global sites, refrigerant gas selections are being actively reviewed in favour of natural sources to reduce carbon emissions. “We’re very much aware that the traditional footprint of large factories certainly has an impact on the environment, so one of our key pillars within HFG is in our sustainability plans and strategies surrounding resourceful factories,” McEntee tells us. Throughout the factories, (and indeed the HFG supply chain) a Scienced Based Targets initiative has been implemented, designed to drive progress towards achieving net zero carbon neutrality by 2050. The use of renewable energy sources, particularly solar, and innovative systems are instrumental in furthering this goal.
Kerry Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life As a leading taste and nutrition company, we partner with customers to make better food, in a better way, for a better future. We inspire food by helping create better tasting, more authentic and nutritious food and beverages. We nourish life by producing safe, high quality products that feed millions of lives every day. Innovative products that are more natural, more socially and environmentally friendly, and more sustainable. Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life – It’s our way of helping shape a sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.
www.kerry.com
Graphic Packaging International To deliver innovation you need to have the right partner and Hilton Foods Australia is exactly that. Like us they understand that the transition to fiber-based packaging is a priority for their customers, and it’s clear that sustainable, paperboard packaging solutions must meet the functionality and performance of existing trays formats, whilst also delivering sustainability benefits. We are excited to partner with a likeminded, forward-thinking business as Hilton Foods Australia. Our PaperSeal® range of paperboard trays offer brands and retailers the opportunity to replace high barrier Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) trays with a barrier-lined paperboard alternative. The development of the PaperSeal® Skin tray solution aligns with our Vision 2025 , leveraging our industry-leading sustainability profile to expand and improve packaging solutions for our customers, while reducing the impact on the environment.
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FOOD & DRINK
Innovating to provide sustainable nutrition for more than 2 billion people. Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life
www.kerry.com
PaperSeal® MAP
Our innovative PaperSeal® tray offers brands and retailers the opportunity to replace high barrier, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and Vacuum Sealed Packaging (VSP) plastic trays with a barrier-lined paperboard alternative.
SUSTAINABILITY FLEXIBILITY EFFICIENCY
PaperSeal® Skin
PaperSeal ® Wedge
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BRANDING PaperSeal® Cook
Talk to us about our innovative range of carton board solutions for your next project. Please contact Peter Allison at peter.allison@graphicpkg.com or phone 0404 480 533
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HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND “Our Heathwood factory has the second largest solar panel system in Australia,” McEntee tells us. “We also have a unique energy management system operating throughout the plant that harvests the heat from our refrigeration and is then used to heat the water for the factory,” he adds. With further progress firmly on the horizon in this respect, McEntee highlights ongoing projects that will play a significant role in delivering greater efficiency and mitigating emissions across the supply chain. Over the next two years across both Australia and New Zealand, three of our factories will become linked to Woolworths’ fresh distribution
centres,” he says. “This will deliver substantial sustainability improvements by taking literally thousands of trucks off the road.”
EMBRACING INNOVATION Through examining HFG’s responsible outlook, it becomes apparent how continual technological innovation is leveraged to maintain and achieve the company’s agenda. “We look at HFG today primarily as an international food manufacturing automated logistics and technology company,” McEntee states. Thanks to their technological prowess, HFG remain ahead of the curve, and indeed, the competition.
“WE LOOK AT HFG TODAY PRIMARILY AS AN INTERNATIONAL FOOD MANUFACTURING AUTOMATED LOGISTICS AND TECHNOLOGY COMPANY” – PAT MCENTEE, COO, HILTON FOODS GROUP APAC
Highgate Group Proudly Australian owned, Highgate Group is the leading supplier and manufacturer of packaging and processing solutions to food processors throughout Australasia. Offering over 4000 product lines from the world’s leading brands, Highgate Group has a reputation for exceptional customer service and innovative product solutions that increase productivity, safety and profitability. It has been a pleasure to partner with the Hilton Food Group over the past few years. Highgate Group have focused on providing consistency of supply through any situation. We look forward to working with Hilton Foods moving forward.
www.highgategroup.net.au
MIVEG We started our cooperation with Hilton Australia, when they decided to introduce handmade style grillskewers into the Australian market. Australia has a huge potential for grillskewers, as there were, until then, just few uniform styles available. Therefore, Hilton was very successful from the beginning. With the flexible MIVEG skewer system, Hilton has all possibilities of producing various styles of skewers and participate in the increasing grillskewer business. As a system partner, we supply Hilton with our machines and beechwood skewers and can therefore give a production guarantee for Hilton.
www.miveg.de
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FOOD & DRINK
Proudly Australian owned, Highgate Group is the leading supplier and manufacturer of packaging and processing solutions to food processors throughout Australasia.
• Packaging • PPE • Food Production Products • Hygiene and Safety • Knives and Sharpening
1800 089 456
highgategroup.net.au
MIVEG Skewer machines and skewer systems. For barbecue and convenience products on a stick. Meat processing companies need a highly flexible, productive system for all markets. A system that achieves maximum performance at the push of a button and produces confidently and reliably with few staff. This is the only way to bring variability into their skewer production. And to react to changing markets and trends like plant based meat.
HIGH SPEED SKEWER
SYSTEMS The new peakperformance in automated skewer production.
With MIVEG, skewer production runs fully automatically, with up to 7200 grill skewers per hour. The systems bring economic efficiency, flexibility and scalability to skewer production. Regardless of whether meat or meat substitute products, minced meat, vegetables, fish or cheese – MIVEG systems produce at a variable rate and at high speed. The patented skewer technology ensures precision and efficiency with guaranteed output. Hybrid systems offer all possibilities of automation and robotic with gantry robots and skewer automation. We are proud to supply the Hilton Food Group as a system partner with our skewering systems and beech wood skewers for their high quality products. MIVEG GmbH Automated Food Systems – European – Am Sandfeld 17 91341 Röttenbach, Germany
SKEWER SYSTEM
7200
7200 skewers per hour. High speed skewer system.
www.miveg.de info@miveg.de +49 9195 99 99 20
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HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Across the Australia and New Zealand operations, this is mainly evidenced by the incorporation of state-ofthe-art automation, geared towards process optimisation. “One of our greatest assets is that we do run highly automated logistics operations. As an example, here in Australia both our Truganina and Heathwood facilities have totally automated DCs where we incorporate robotics and other technologies,” he tells us. Innovative technology has been embedded into operations since the company’s nascent days in Australia, particularly with the aforementioned opening of the Truganina factory in 2015, hailed as the country’s most technologically advanced food manufacturing facility. This pace continues to this day. “Over the last two years since taking operational control of the business in Australia, we’ve introduced some wonderful technologies, such as seal
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fresh tray packing capability and a lot of smart technology, particularly within the slicing and cutting preparation of products which has delivered significant yield benefits,” McEntee explains. Traceability is also a major component of HFG’s technological capabilities in line with the company’s responsible outlook, particularly within gathering insights and data from quality systems throughout the industry. In terms of innovation amongst their product range, this is primarily leveraged to encourage healthy dietary choices amongst consumers – whether through the manufacture of alternative meat proteins, as evidenced by the joint venture with Dalco or producing affordable ranges of products with lowered fat and salt content. HFG are renowned for catalysing the uptake of innovation across the value chain, from product to
Symbio Laboratories Symbio Laboratories is Australia’s largest independent laboratory, servicing the analytical testing needs of the food, agricultural, environmental and pharmaceutical industries. Symbio is dedicated to performing routine and advanced testing, in state-of-the-art, purposebuilt, NATA-accredited laboratories, located in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville and Wagga. The Symbio team includes many highly trained, qualified professionals with wide-ranging industry experience. We have a long association with the meat industry with clients ranging from producers, processors, packers, retailers to regulators and industry groups. Testing has also been conducted for the National Residue Survey and FSANZ.
symbiolabs.com.au
FOOD & DRINK
With 24 years’ experience in food and environmental testing, trust Symbio Laboratories with your analytical testing requirements.
Symbio Laboratories is a trusted provider of analytical testing to numerous food and environmental organisations, big and small. The Symbio difference starts with: • • •
NATA accredited microbiology, chemistry and residue testing methods; Automation innovations to provide fast turnaround times of reliable and traceable result data, at a competitive price; Personalised value-added services to assist with real client needs.
Discover how Symbio Laboratories can assist your business with your analytical testing needs and feel confident partnering with a highly trusted and experienced national laboratory.
1300 703 166 symbiolabs.com.au
Australia Wide Refrigeration Specialists
Innovators of Taste & Functionality COMMITMENT What matters to us is reliability, sustainability and trustworthiness. Our long lasting partnerships are based on personal relationships. Our success is built on our personal commitment to our customers – on dedication above and beyond regular daily business. We are open to new encounters and cooperation with partners throughout the entire world. INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS Custom-made individual product development solutions instead of mass production. For every single customer.
Backed by Skill and Creative Thinking
QUALITY Modern equipment and strict selection of raw materials ensures top quality products. Our certification according to SQF8.1, HACCP, Certified Organic and Halal is a guarantee of our professionalism and safety. TASTE AND FUNCTIONALITY Our products are intelligent combinations of good taste and functionality. A perfect blend to match the regional requirements and desires of our customers. The extensive range of Berger’s food ingredients offers unlimited options of applications for a variety of meat & small goods and alternative protein solutions.
24/7 Support | 1300 731 699 Adelaide | Brisbane | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney | Kuala Lumpur
Berger Ingredients Pty Ltd | Unit 2, 17 Willfox Street | Condell Park NSW 2200 | Phone: 1300 859 315
APAC Outlook issue 51 | 23
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
24 | APAC Outlook issue 51
FOOD & DRINK
Truganina Site Melbourne, Australia
packaging, ultimately delivering commercial advantage on behalf of their partners and informed decision making amongst the consumer. The constant monitoring of consumer insights serves to drive further progress and inspire ideas.
LOOKING AHEAD Looking to the future, McEntee hints at HFG’s ever-expanding international footprint as a truly global entity. “We’re excited about further geographical expansion. We are proud and privileged that we are in conversation, and we are looking to Southeast Asia as potentially the next location for our brand in the APAC region.”
Aside from this, HFG will continue to have their hands full with the successful launch and implementation of the New Zealand food park, delivering the brand into an exciting new market. “At present the new food park is the highest priority for us here in APAC, so there will be an intense focus on ensuring that everything in New Zealand is seamless for Woolworths New Zealand’s Countdown stores and customers.” With the completion of this new mission and moving on from business transition, HFG will bring a new mindset to match, honing and refining their methods of operation here in APAC.
“We’re still quite young. Having run the business in Australia for three years now, a lot of that time has been taken up with the commission of Heathwood, so part of our focus for the year ahead is moving out of project mode and into the day to day running of the business. “We will be fine tuning our ways of working and striving for continual improvement.”
Tel: +61 3 8855 7450 hiltonfoodsAPAC@hfgplc.com www.hiltonfoodgroupplc.com
APAC Outlook issue 51 | 25
HILTON FOODS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 267 Dohertys Road, Truganina VIC 3029 Australia Tel: +61 3 8855 7450 hiltonfoodsAPAC@hfgplc.com www.hiltonfoodgroupplc.com
PRODUCED BY APAC OUTLOOK MAGAZINE