General manager of Delica Australia Brent Lawson has announced that his company has purchased a 50 per cent shareholding in leading Australian asparagus exporter Delica Pty from company founder Murray McCallum.
Mr Lawson took over as general manager of Delica Pty on 6 July and will be responsible for its trading operations in the 2010 season.
Based in Koo Wee Rup, Victoria, Delica Pty is a vertically-integrated asparagus export company that represents a joint venture between Delica Australia, Australia’s largest grower-packer M&G Vizzari and grower-packer Dalmore Golden Mile.
Operating since 1994, the company ships an estimated 45 per cent of the Australian asparagus export crop each season to Japan and other countries in North Asia and South East Asia. Delica Pty’s Victoria Delight label has long been recognised as a leading Australian asparagus brand, according to Mr Lawson.
Mr McCallum remains with Delica Global, overseeing the international marketer’s global asparagus and mango businesses along with other strategic projects.
“After 21 years in the asparagus export industry, I have decided to move on,” he told Fruitnet.com. “I am moving on to new challenges and projects within the Delica group. This is a natural fit for Delica Australia to take up my shareholding and the management. It cements Delica Australia’s position as the largest diversified fruit and vegetable exporter in Australia.”
Mr McCallum confirmed that it would be business as usual for Delica Pty this season, with no directional changes to the company. “Brent has been involved in the asparagus export industry for nine years, so he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role,” he said.
