Coles to process livestock at Teys Australia's Qld facility

Coles has reached a multi-year deal to process livestock at Teys Australia’s Beenleigh processing facility, adding new farms to its supply chain.

Under the agreement, Teys Australia, which has been in the Teys family for four generations, will process cattle purchased by Coles from hundreds of Australian beef farmers at Teys’ Beenleigh facility, located just south of Brisbane.

The arrangement, announced during the industry event Beef Week 2021 in Rockhampton, comes as Coles builds direct supply with 30 new Australian farming families, including 15 from Queensland.

Claimed as Australia’s second-largest meat processor, Teys has 75 years of experience in the Australian beef industry. The arrangement with Teys is designed to further reinforce Coles’ commitment to selling only 100% Australian beef.

“We look forward to supporting Coles’ producer network and Australian consumers with sustainable and quality beef products under the processing arrangement with Coles at our Beenleigh site,” said Teys Australia’s Chairman and CEO Brad Teys.

Coles already sources directly from more than 100 Queensland cattle farming families from Capella in the north to Goondiwindi in the south, and the new agreements will increase that number to more than 130.

Second-generation cattle farmers Rob and Anne Bridle, from Tara, are one of the 15 new Queensland cattle farming families to begin supplying Coles directly with cattle for the Coles butcher range, which includes cuts from scotch fillet to mince.

Bridle said a regular supply contract with Coles gave him the certainty he needs to invest in the future of his business.

“Working with Coles directly gives me the confidence each week and stability in operations by having a consistent cycle of cattle moving through the feedlot, and cash flow to reinvest in the business,” he said.

“I like the hands-on approach with Coles visiting the farm regularly and working together on initiatives like the new eNVD app which saves us time on traceability paperwork and gives me fast access to information about price and volumes.

“For customers, it’s important they know there’s a 100% trust element and traceability with direct supply.”

Image supplied by Coles.