The grower-backed business has secured a 17-room facility in Epping to support its core banana and avocado programmes
Australian supplier Mackays Marketing has announced that it has taken up a lease of a ripening facility in Epping, Melbourne.
Mackays said the move strengthens its presence in one of Australia’s most important fresh produce markets and provides a ”strong platform to support customers with high-quality ripening and supply chain capability closer to market”.
The 17-room facility will support Mackays Marketing’s core fruit categories, including bananas and avocados, while also creating capacity to work with producers and marketers across a wider range of tropical fruit lines.
Tayla Mackay, chief operating officer, said the new facility represents an exciting milestone for the business.
“This facility gives us the ability to be closer to customers, closer to demand and closer to opportunity in a key national market,” she said.
”It strengthens our existing banana and avocado programmes, but just as importantly it gives us room to support growth in other tropical fruit categories where producers and marketers need a high-quality ripening and handling partner.
”As a grower-backed business, we understand how important it is to have the right capability in market to protect fruit quality and create strong outcomes across the supply chain,” Mackay added.
Mackays Marketing also revealed it is collaborating with Sculli & Co, a prominent operator in the Melbourne wholesale markets with more than 50 years of experience and a significant independent retail customer base across Victoria.
Together, Mackays Marketing and Sculli & Co will combine resources to provide a stronger route to market for tropical fruit from North Queensland, particularly through the independent retail channel.
“We are proud to develop this relationship between our two businesses and excited about what it can create for customers and category partners over time,” Mackay added.
Philip Basile, Managing Director of Sculli & Co, said the collaboration brings together two businesses with a shared focus on quality, service and long-term category development.
“We know the value of strong partnerships in fresh produce, and we believe this collaboration with Mackays Marketing brings together complementary strengths.
”There is real potential here to deliver excellent outcomes for customers while also creating more options for tropical fruit suppliers looking for dependable ripening and market support in Melbourne,” he added.
