Food group in $1.8m deal

Company grows its premium offering

themercury.com.au

A TASMANIAN company with a focus on premium food products has added another business to its growing ranks.

Following the announcement of its expansion into plant-based dairy and meal solutions earlier this week, Pure Foods Tasmania announced its acquisition of the Daly Potato Company on Tuesday with a deal worth $1.8m.

Daly Potato Co was founded by Gerard and Susie Daly in 2016 with the aim to value-add to potatoes from their SouthEast Coast farm. They are well-known for their range of potato salads and ready-toheat meals.

Pure Foods Tasmania managing director Michael Cooper said the company had been in discussion with the Dalys for a few months, with the acquisition

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set to cement PFT’s move into the meal solutions market.

“When we moved into meal solutions we needed a partner in that space – we had the fish and the chicken and the plantbased dairy, but we needed that good Tassie produce. Their product just fits that so well,” he said.

Mr Cooper said he known the Daly family about 15 years.

“They’re probably the best potatoes. They’re high quality and the family is very passionate about what they do,” he said.

“We’ve signed a 10-year deal with the Dalys for potato supply because their quality is so high.”

Mr Cooper said there was a potential for PFT to move into organic mayonnaise production. had for

“We’ll take it to the next level. It would be high end, better for you, less fats,” he said.

About $1m will be invested into automation for the Daly Potato Company.

“By us putting some machinery in there to invest in automation, it will improve safety and quality – it’s not about taking people out,” he said.

It would also help them to extend the reach of product, with Daly products now set to hit shelves in Hong Kong and Singapore, he said.

Mr Cooper said the best thing about welcoming Daly Potato Co into the PFT family was that they were sticking to their strategy.

“As much as possible we have 100 per cent Tasmanian produce, and we’re showing it to the world,” he said.