While the bad news for tomato-growers on Friday January 6, 2012 was that all Heinz tomato-sauce and ketchup ceased production in Australia, the big picture is that several massive investments in glasshouse tomatoes are creating opportunities for a new world-leading tomato industry in Australia. Many were disappointed by the Heinz closure of its Gigarre operation, which had been foreshadowed by Heinz  seven months earlier (as Australian Food News reported on May 27, 2011). Job loss concerns still... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest tomato processor, the Echuca-based Cedenco Australia, has been sold to a Japanese food manufacturer after nearly eight months in receivership. The company maintained normal production during the receivership and the sale will result in creditors being paid in full, said KordaMentha partner Craig Shepard. Mr Shepard said the Receivers and Managers have entered a conditional agreement with a subsidiary of Kagome Co., Ltd for the sale of all of the assets of Cedenco Australia... ...Read more »

An investigation by the American FBI preceded the calling in of receivers at Australia’s largest tomato processor – Cedenco Foods Australia, but reports suggest the probe was related to a trust with links to the company rather than Cedenco itself. Located in the town of Echuca, Cedenco operates the largest tomato-processing factory in the southern hemisphere. Earlier this year a company owned by their US owner filed for bankruptcy but Cedenco said at the time that their business was still... ...Read more »

Cedenco Foods Australia has been placed in the hands of receivers but will remain in operation pending a sale of the business. Located in the town of Echuca, the company operates the largest tomato-processing factory in the southern hemisphere. Earlier this year a company owned by their US owner filed for bankruptcy but Cedenco said at the time that their business was still performing well. However, “a breakdown in governance and ownership issues in the related New Zealand entity” –... ...Read more »