Pendle Ham and Bacon Curers Pty Ltd wishes to advise its customers that it has initiated a consumer recall on the below-listed products as a precautionary health measure. The recall is in response to testing which indicates the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women, the very young, the elderly and people with low immune systems. Any customer concerned about their health should contact their doctor. Consumers are asked not to consume this product and should... ...Read more »

The competition watchdog has given the all clear to Primo Smallgoods for the proposed purchase of certain assets of Hans Continental Smallgoods. The decision was made in the belief that, given Hans was likely to collapse without a purchaser, the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition. “After extensive inquiries with market participants, the ACCC concluded that unless acquired by Primo, Hans would be likely to cease trading imminently and would be liquidated by the administrator.... ...Read more »

KordaMentha, the administrators for Hans Smallgoods, today announced it had entered an agreement to sell Swicker’s Bacon Factory in Kingaroy, Queensland, to a local group of pork producers, as the ACCC continues to look into Primo’s proposal to acquire Hans. Swicker’s is a significant part of the Hans group of companies, which was placed in voluntary administration under KordaMentha in November 2008. The factory will be sold for an undisclosed price to the CHM Alliance, a minority... ...Read more »

George Weston Foods, which owns smallgoods producer Don KRC, is no longer pursuing an acquisition of Hans Smallgoods. Australia’s largest smallgoods producer, Primo, and George Weston, whose Don, KR Castlemaine and Watsonia brands are prominent in the smallgoods sector, both sought approval from the ACCC to purchase Hans, but yesterday the ACCC terminated their review of George Weston’s request as the proposed purchase would “no longer proceed for commercial reasons”. Hans... ...Read more »

Primo Smallgoods, Australia’s largest smallgoods manufacturer, has appeared in a Sydney court today to defend itself against claims of mislabelling. The NSW Food Authority has sought to prosecute the company for allegedly labelling products which had imported contents, as 100 per cent Australian. They are appearing before the Downing Centre Court after a six-month investigation by the NSW Food Authority and could potentially face a bill of over $1 million if found guilty. The company, which... ...Read more »

George Weston Foods, the owner of Don KRC, and Primo Smallgoods have signalled their intentions to purchase Hans Smallgoods. Hans went into voluntary administration in November, with the business operating as normal until an appropriate buyer is found by the administrators – KordaMentha. “Hans is a great brand and has some world class facilities, so our first aim will be to offer the business to buyers with related interests so that some synergies may be achieved,” Mark Mentha, from KordaMentha,... ...Read more »

Smallgoods manufacturer Primo is to establish a $70m plant at Wacol as the area’s emergence as an industrial and employment hub gather pace, according to Invest Brisbane, the city’s official investment promotion agency and part of Brisbane Marketing. Invest Brisbane has been working closely with Primo since 2004 to secure the investment for Brisbane – in particular to ensure infrastructure to the area is suitable for the development, including water, sewer and transport and facilitating... ...Read more »

Hans, one of Australia’s largest smallgoods manufacturers, has entered voluntary administration but the business will continue operating while a buyer is sought. Higher costs and stronger pork competition has been attributed with the collapse of the Hans group of companies, with KordaMentha appointed as administrators today. Mark Mentha, from KordaMentha, said the companies, including Hans Continental Smallgoods and the Swicker’s Kingaroy Bacon Factory, would trade normally while the... ...Read more »

The Workplace Ombudsman has today released a new list of businesses it will target in the lead-up to Christmas to ensure workers are properly paid.The workplace watchdog’s latest “hit-list” includes bakeries, butchers, dairy producers, coffee shops and take-away food outlets. Also in the sights of inspectors will be grocers, smallgoods stores and both retail and wholesale suppliers of poultry and seafood. Federal Workplace Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson advised that the national food... ...Read more »

Primo Smallgoods is conducting a voluntary recall of the products listed below in response to testing which indicates the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women, the very young, the elderly and people with low immune systems. Any customers concerned about their health should contact their doctor. Customers should not consume the product and instead return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Date Notified To FSANZ: 27 August 2008 Food Product: Smallgoods Name... ...Read more »