Golden Circle
Encyclopedia
Golden Circle is a subsidiary of US-based Heinz Corporation, based in Brisbane
, Queensland
. Its main operations are food processing.
Initially, the company processed and canned pineapple
s and produced fruit jams. Over the years, production has expanded to include other canned fruit
and vegetables, fruit cordial
s, juices, carbonated beverages and baby food.
As of 2009, Golden Circle (GC) ceased to be an Australian Owned Company. The board and shareholders of GC agreed and sold all of their shares for 313% more than they were trading at prior to the offer from US Corporation, Heinz.
Golden Circle was one of few remaining Australian Food Companies being sold by Australian farmers to International Companies.
hinterland, Maryborough
, Woodbury, and northern Queensland. Vegetables are largely sourced from the Lockyer Valley
west of Brisbane. Crops that are not grown in Queensland are supplied by the southern states.
Golden Circle operates the world's largest steam peeler and new beetroot
processing lines, a $A20m food hall enabling a move into the development of new products such as baby food and a Tetra Pak
plant that produces more than 42 million litres of fruit juices and drinks annually. Golden Circle also operates a robotic blow-moulding facility capable of producing 50 million plastic cordial and other beverage bottles every year.
Golden Circle employs a large number of people, which varies seasonally between 700 and 1,700.
In addition to its main processing operation in Brisbane, Golden Circle also owns the Original Juice Co. plant at Mill Park
, on Melbourne
's northern outskirts, and a fresh fruit packing operation in Griffith
, New South Wales
.
, a northern suburb of Brisbane
.
Sales offices are located in every Australian state
as well as New Zealand
. Australia is the principal market for Golden Circle products, but they are also exported to New Zealand and other Pacific countries.
announced it was making a conditional takeover bid for 100% of the companies shares.
On 6 October 2008, Heinz
launched a Golden Circle takeover bid. Phillip Cave advised that the take over bid of $1.65 per share ($288 million in total) was "attractive" for all shareholders, particularly given the current difficult economic conditions.
The Heinz takeover bid was finalised successfully on 19 December 2008.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Its main operations are food processing.
Beginnings
Golden Circle began operations in 1947 after construction of the main canning factory at Northgate was completed. The new facility was opened by the then Premier of Queensland, the Hon Edward Hanlon. The company was originally called 'Queensland Tropical Fruit Products', with 'Golden Circle' used as their brand name.Initially, the company processed and canned pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
s and produced fruit jams. Over the years, production has expanded to include other canned fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
and vegetables, fruit cordial
Cordial
Cordial may refer to:* Squash , a non-alcoholic fruit drink concentrate* Elderflower cordial, a non-alcoholic beverage* Cordial , a medicinal beverage* Cordial , a type of candy that has a fruit filling inside a chocolate shell...
s, juices, carbonated beverages and baby food.
As of 2009, Golden Circle (GC) ceased to be an Australian Owned Company. The board and shareholders of GC agreed and sold all of their shares for 313% more than they were trading at prior to the offer from US Corporation, Heinz.
Golden Circle was one of few remaining Australian Food Companies being sold by Australian farmers to International Companies.
Operations
Australian farmers supply more than 180,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually to the company for processing. The fruit crops, of which pineapple is the largest, come from the Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
hinterland, Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, Woodbury, and northern Queensland. Vegetables are largely sourced from the Lockyer Valley
Lockyer Valley, Queensland
The Lockyer Valley is an area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world...
west of Brisbane. Crops that are not grown in Queensland are supplied by the southern states.
Golden Circle operates the world's largest steam peeler and new beetroot
Beetroot
The beetroot, also known as the table beet, garden beet, red beet or informally simply as beet, is one of the many cultivated varieties of beets and arguably the most commonly encountered variety in North America, Central America and Britain.-Consumption:The usually deep-red roots of beetroot are...
processing lines, a $A20m food hall enabling a move into the development of new products such as baby food and a Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is a multinational food processing and packaging company of Swedish origin. It was founded in 1951 in Lund, Sweden, by Ruben Rausing. It was Erik Wallenberg who invented the tetrahedral package, today known as Tetra Classic...
plant that produces more than 42 million litres of fruit juices and drinks annually. Golden Circle also operates a robotic blow-moulding facility capable of producing 50 million plastic cordial and other beverage bottles every year.
Golden Circle employs a large number of people, which varies seasonally between 700 and 1,700.
In addition to its main processing operation in Brisbane, Golden Circle also owns the Original Juice Co. plant at Mill Park
Mill Park, Victoria
Mill Park is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
, on Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's northern outskirts, and a fresh fruit packing operation in Griffith
Griffith, New South Wales
Griffith is a city in south-western New South Wales, Australia. It is also the seat of the City of Griffith local government area. Like the Australian capital, Canberra and the nearby town of Leeton, Griffith was designed by Walter Burley Griffin. Griffith was named after Sir Arthur Griffith the...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Products
Golden Circle manufactures more than 800 products including shelf stable fruit and vegetables (in cans and glass jars), fruit juices, cordials, soft drinks, jams, conserves and baby food. Pineapple products now account for only 24% of the company's total product range.Presence
The main production facility is at NorthgateNorthgate, Queensland
Northgate is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 9 km north of the Brisbane CBD. The land area comprises industrial and residential areas...
, a northern suburb of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Sales offices are located in every Australian state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
as well as New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Australia is the principal market for Golden Circle products, but they are also exported to New Zealand and other Pacific countries.
Takeover Bids
On 26 September 2007, Coca-Cola AmatilCoca-Cola Amatil
Coca-Cola Amatil is an Australian company that bottles and distributes The Coca-Cola Company soft drinks and other beverages in several countries...
announced it was making a conditional takeover bid for 100% of the companies shares.
On 6 October 2008, Heinz
H. J. Heinz Company
The H. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
launched a Golden Circle takeover bid. Phillip Cave advised that the take over bid of $1.65 per share ($288 million in total) was "attractive" for all shareholders, particularly given the current difficult economic conditions.
The Heinz takeover bid was finalised successfully on 19 December 2008.