Media release
Thursday, 15 August 2002 / MVT097/2002
Rosella Flies Back under Australian Ownership
An Australian food brand icon, under foreign ownership for almost
40 years, is once again an Australian owned brand, Trade Minister
Mark Vaile announced today.
Mr Vaile said he was delighted the Rosella brand, a name synonymous
with Australia for more than a century, had been bought by an Australian
company, Stuart Alexander.
"The Rosella brand was building itself as a household name well before
this country was Federated, and in the past 101 years has figured
prominently on the shelves of not only stores, but in the kitchens
of Australian households," Mr Vaile said.
"I certainly have fond memories of my childhood days with mum's cooking
covered in lashings of Rosella tomato sauce."
"In fact Rosella tomato sauce today represents more than 50 per cent
of the brand's sales.
"Garry Browne and his team at Stuart Alexander are to be congratulated
for their achievement of bringing an Australian icon back under full
Australian ownership.
Mr Vaile said over the years many of Australia's icon brands such
as Four'n'Twenty pies, Arnott's Biscuits and Peter's Ice Cream have
been sold to foreign interests but was unaware of an Australian icon
being brought back under Australian ownership.
"It would appear the Rosella brand purchase is the first time an
Australian company has bought back an Australian icon company previously
sold to foreign interests."
Mr Vaile said Stuart Alexander had purchased the Rosella brand from
the Australian arm of the international consumer goods manufacturer
Unilever who acquired the brand back in 1963. Unilever is currently
undergoing international restructure.
"I note that whilst Stuart Alexander has also been a proud Australian
company involved in marketing consumer goods for well over 100 years,
the Rosella brand acquisition marks a new chapter in the company's
history as a brand owner.
"Under their previous owner the Rosella brand was a player in the
export market and l look forward to watching Rosella's export efforts
flourish under Stuart Alexander's ownership."
The processed food and beverage sector is one of Australia's largest
manufacturing industries, employing more than 160,000 people.
Media Contact: Mark Croxford 0418 273 475
Local Date:
Friday, 21-Nov-2008 15:52:05 EST
