SPC Australia

SPC Global Limited, formerly SPC Ardmona, is an Australian-based global agribusiness that specialises in food manufacturing, in particular large fruit processing and packing and owns and operates a factory in Shepparton and is one of the biggest employers in the Goulburn Valley region.

History
Started in 1917 by a group of fruit growers in Victoria's Goulburn Valley as a cooperative which they named the Shepparton Fruit Preserving Co. Ltd. The company began operations in February 1918, canning pears, peaches and nectarines under the brand name of SPC. SPC was incorporated as a public listed company in 1912, and Ardmona opened in 1921.

SPC Ardmona was formed in 2002 by the merger of the former Shepparton Preserving Company (SPC) and Ardmona.

SPC Ardmona was bought by Coca-Cola Amatil in 2005 for A$750 million. In that time, CCA had also invested about A$250 million in infrastructure, and the Victorian government had provided A$22 million in co-investment.

It acquired IXL and Taylors brands in 2004,. SPCA closed its Mooroopna processing plant in 2011 and its Kyabram factory was sold in 2019. Coca-Cola Amatil sold SPC in 2019 for A$40 million to Shepparton Partners Collective, now known as SPC Global Limited who implemented strategies for global growth.

SPC Global carries the SPC, Goulburn Valley, Ardmona, Provital, Pomlife and Helping Humans brands.

In August 2021, SPC Global mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for all staff, contractors, and visitors by November to be allowed entry to all their offices and factory sites. It announced it would provide staff paid vaccination leave and up to two days of special leave to recover if they became unwell after receiving the shot. With that, it became the first Australian company to mandate vaccines for all onsite staff and visitors.

Currently, Hussein Rifai is the Chairman of the company. Since 2023, Neil Brimacombe is CEO.

Former Financial problems
SPC Ardmona lost $25 million in 2013, compared to a $70 million profit 8 years earlier. In 2012, SPCA disposed $100 million of fruit bought under contract because it could not be sold, blaming it on "plummeting" local and export orders. A former Coca-Cola Asia executive, Peter Kelly, went to the company in April 2013 to attempt to turn it around.

In October 2013, SPCA sought A$50 million financial assistance from the Federal and Victorian governments to modernise its operation. It wanted the Victorian Government to match the Federal grant. In early 2014, SPCA sought $25 million of Federal government assistance as part of a plan to upgrade the Shepparton cannery which was rejected. Shortly afterwards however, the Victorian Government announced that $22 million would be provided.

In November 2016, Woolworths ended its contract with SPCA for the supply of tinned tomatoes and would not renew it. However, the five-year deal to provide tinned fruit was ongoing.

Turnaround & Growth
In June 2019, it was announced that Coca-Cola Amatil had sold the SPC business to a group called Shepparton Partners Collective, now known as SPC Global Limited, for $40 million. Shepparton Partners Collective was a joint venture between Perma Funds Management, a boutique investment house, and The Eights, a private equity firm. The sale was subject to a four-year deferred payment which, subject to business performance, could generate a further $15 million for Coca-Cola on top of the money paid up-front. As part of the turnaround strategy, the business sold the IXL and Taylors brands with the Kyabram factory in 2019 to a group of farmers and growers in the Goulburn Valley.

In 2021, SPC introduced the manufacturing and distribution of healthy beverages through its new acquisitions of the brand, Helping Humans, and ready to eat meals through, the Kuisine Co. and The Good meal Co.

In the 2020-21 Financial Year, SPC reported a consolidated profit after tax of AUD 11.8 million. In 2021-22 it returned a consolidated profit after tax of AUD 24 million.

SPC Football Club
The SPC Football Club won the 1945 Goulburn Valley Football Association – Lightning Premiership which was held on the King's Birthday public holiday.

SPC were runners up to Shepparton East in the 1945 Goulburn Valley Football Association grand final.

SPC defeated Numurkah in the 1948 Central Goulburn Valley Football League's seconds grand final. and in 1949 SPC were defeated by Shepparton in the 1949 Central Goulburn Valley Football League's senior football grand final.

SPC merged with Shepparton East in 1950 to form City United, later named the Shepparton United Football Club and entered a senior team in Goulburn Valley Football League.