AUSTRALIA – Private equity-owned Kilcoy Global Foods (KGF) has expanded its operations in Australia with the acquisition of a burger production facility from Tyson Foods.
The transaction for the Coominya site in Queensland, finalized on October 28, was disclosed by KGF without any details on the financial terms.
Kilcoy, known for processing various meats such as grain-fed and grass-fed beef, lamb, and goat, stated that the Coominya plant’s location near its Kilcoy base will enhance its capabilities.
The Coominya facility produces around three million beef patties daily, supplying to McDonald’s and exporting to Asian markets.
In an official statement, Jiah Falcke, KGF’s Australia president, commented on the acquisition, noting, “The potential business synergies are exceptional. We’ve been supplying to Coominya for more than 20 years. The Coominya team has the same high standards that we do, and for us the fit made perfect business sense.”
KGF indicated plans to invest in the Coominya facility, though specifics on the investment were not shared.
Founded in 1953 by the Kennedy family under the name Kilcoy Pastoral Company, KGF was acquired in 2013 by Hosen Capital, a private-equity firm based in China. Since then, KGF has grown through various acquisitions, establishing a presence in the US, China, and Australia.
Tyson Foods, a US-based meat giant has been streamlining its operations in recent months, divesting assets and reducing its workforce.
Earlier this year, Tyson sold its minority stake in an Indian joint venture with Godrej Agrovet and announced potential layoffs for up to 1,000 workers at its Wilkesboro, North Carolina plant.
Additionally, it has started the sale process for a poultry facility in Georgia and announced plans to exit its Perry, Iowa pork facility, impacting over 1,000 jobs.
The company expanded into the US market with its 2014 acquisition of Ruprecht Co., followed by the purchase of China’s Weidao Foods in 2015 and Greenswift in 2019.
In Australia, KGF acquired Hardwicks, a grass-fed beef processor, in 2021, and added a second facility in Lance Creek, Victoria, in 2022.
Kilcoy’s brand portfolio includes Kilcoy Diamond, Ebony Black Angus, Carrara Wagyu, and Hardwicks.
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