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1  Date: 30-06-2010       Choice Magazine ranks Cobram Estate one of Australia's top olive oils
2  Date: 25-02-2010       Cobram Estate on San Francisco TV
3  Date: 23-12-2009       Cobram Estate Declared Australia's Best Olive Oil
4  Date: 22-12-2009       Boundary Bend wins Inaugural Agribusiness Innovation Award
5  Date: 21-12-2009       Leandro Ravetti speaks on Canadian radio
6  Date: 27-11-2009       Letter to Timbercorp Olive Growers
7  Date: 16-10-2009       Open Letter to Timbercorp MIS Olive Growers and Advisors
8  Date: 13-10-2009       Boundary Bend purchases Timbercorp olive assets
9  Date: 10-07-2009       Boundary Bend achieves unprecedented results in record olive harvest
10  Date: 04-05-2009       Boundary Bend Defers Olive Harvest
11  Date: 17-11-2008       Cobram’s oil comes from Australia’s best grove!
12  Date: 13-10-2008       Triple medal win seals Cobram Estate’s place in Australian supermarkets
13  Date: 16-06-2008       Cobram Estate Wins Gold in LA
14  Date: 14-05-2008       BBL success in Italian olive oil competition
15  Date: 02-05-2008       Let the Harvest Begin!!!
16  Date: 01-05-2008       Boundary Bend Limited offers olive investment opportunity in Argentina
17  Date: 26-11-2007       Boundary Bend Wins 2007 Australian Agribusiness Exporter of the Year
18  Date: 02-11-2007       Olive Oil Company wins Prestigious Agribusiness Export Award
19  Date: 04-10-2007       Boundary Bend Limited wins Governor of Victoria 2007 Agribusiness Export Award.
20  Date: 17-09-2007       New Products Deliver Multiple Gold to Cobram Estate
21  Date: 26-07-2007       Waratah wire supporting Australia's olives
22  Date: 06-07-2007       BBL is the pre-eminent marketer of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil through our subsidiary’s Boundary Bend Marketing and Cobram Estate.
23  Date: 02-07-2007       BBL is the largest manager of olive groves in Australia
24  Date: 07-04-2007       Regional companies copy brunt of government inaction on MIS
25  Date: 08-02-2007       Dutton derails growth in the bush

1  Date: 30-06-2010       Choice Magazine ranks Cobram Estate one of Australia's top olive oils
To view the release please select the attached link.
Click Here to Download PDF File

2  Date: 25-02-2010       Cobram Estate on San Francisco TV
See Cobram Estate featured on San Francisco TV by following the attached link.



http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/food_wine&id=7291621 

3  Date: 23-12-2009       Cobram Estate Declared Australia's Best Olive Oil
AUSTRALIA, 28 OCTOBER 2009 – Cobram Estate was last night announced as the winner of the Best Oil in Show at the prestigious 13th National Australian Olive Association (AOA) Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) Awards. This achievement topped off a highly successful awards season for Australia’s leading home-grown olive oil brand.

The winning oil, Cobram Estate Hojiblanca, was recognized for outstanding quality and excellence in a competitive field.  In doing so the oil was awarded the shows highest score of 18 out of a possible 20 points. Cobram Estate’s flagship supermarket oils, Fresh & Fruity and Rich & Robust, also achieved outstanding success, with both oils receiving silver medals.

“We are incredibly excited to win these distinguished awards,” Leandro Ravetti, Executive Director of Boundary Bend, the parent company of Cobram Estate, said. “It is recognition of Cobram Estate’s dedication and commitment to quality and excellence in the growing, harvesting and production of EVOOs”.

“As Australia’s leading vertically-integrated olive producer, we have the ability to select and bottle only the best and purest EVOOs produced on our estates, and we are proud that these efforts have been recognized by the AOA” Leandro added.

100% of Cobram Estate’s oils are certified by the Australian Olive Association’s ‘Code of Practice’ and bear the logo.

The AOA National awards are the pinnacle within the Australian olive industry. This year more than 200 entries were submitted – the highest number of entries in the award’s history – with Cobram Estate submitting five entries for Picual, Hojiblanca, Premiere, Rich & Robust and Fresh & Fruity in three classes. Hojiblanca and Picual both won Gold, whilst Premiere, Rich & Robust and Fresh & Fruity won Silver. The awards were judged at Restaurant Pendolino in the Strand, Sydney by twenty-seven judges at the end of September, with the winners announced at the National Press Club in Canberra.

Cobram Estate’s EVOOs have been decorated with a prestigious list of gold, silver and bronze awards, including the following 2009 Gold medal highlights:

•    Gold medal in the 2009 Brisbane Ekka EVOO Awards, class 2  (Fresh & Fruity)

•    Gold medal in the Olive Producers (NE VIC) Inc., 10th Annual Golden Olive Awards, 2009, class 4

     (Fresh & Fruity)

•    Gold medal in the 2009 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show – Olive Oil Competition, class 6

     (Champion Varietal in Show, Hojiblanca)

•    Gold medal in the 2009 Brisbane Ekka EVOO Awards, class 2 (Hojiblanca)

•    Gold medal in the 2009 Royal Canberra EVOO Show, class 5 (Hojiblanca)

•    Gold medal in the Olive Producers (NE VIC) Inc., 10th Annual Golden Olive Awards, 2009, class 4 (Hojiblanca)

•    Gold medal in the 2009 Los Angeles International EVOO Competition, Australian blends category (Hojiblanca)

•    Gold medal in the 2009 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show – Olive Oil Competition, class 6 (Picual)

Cobram Estate produces two award-winning ranges of EVOOs, the Everyday Range and the Premium Range. The award-winning oils in the Everyday Range are a combination of leading varieties, skillfully crafted together by the Estate’s panel of master blenders to maximize quality and ensure consistency from year to year. The Premium Range is the Estate’s single varietal range, which is harvested very early and produced at the lowest temperatures to maximize flavour and freshness, and retain the complex flavour notes of single variety oils.

Cobram Estate’s Everyday Range is available at Coles, Woolworths and leading independent supermarkets while the Premium Range including Hojiblanca is available at The Essential Ingredient, Black Pearl Epicure and gourmet food stores nationally.

About Cobram Estate:

Established in 1996, Cobram Estate is Australia’s leading brand of home grown Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The brand was launched domestically in 2001, distributed through premium stockists including The Essential Ingredient in Melbourne and Sydney, and Black Pearl Epicure in Brisbane. In 2002, Cobram Estate entered the national retail market, listing its Fresh and Fruity EVOO in Coles Stores. It was the first 100 per cent Australian EVOO brand to take this step.

Cobram Estate launched an export range to the USA in 2003 and was closely followed by retail listings in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea.

In 2006, Cobram Estate became a subsidiary of Boundary Bend Limited, Australia’s leading vertically integrated olive company. The additional resources, expertise and supply of premium EVOO elevated Cobram Estate to the position of the Number One Selling and awarded Australian EVOO brand in the domestic retail market.

Today, Cobram Estate employs more than 60 workers in its Boundary Bend and Boort groves, which grow more than fourteen varieties of olives and cover more than 6,500 hectares of pristine farmland in northern Victoria.  Annually, the estate produces over 7 million litres of premium EVOO and, in, addition to the markets mentioned above, now exports to China, Japan, The Maldives and Thailand.

Cobram Estate’s Everyday Range is available at Coles, Woolworths and leading independent supermarkets while the Ultra-Premium Range is available at The Essential Ingredient and gourmet food stores nationally.

W: www.cobramestate.com.au
Click Here to Download PDF File

4  Date: 22-12-2009       Boundary Bend wins Inaugural Agribusiness Innovation Award

Boundary Bend Limited, Australia’s premier olive company, has been announced as the inaugural winner of the 2009 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) “Innovation in New and Emerging Industries Award”.


The award was presented last night at the NAB Agribusiness 2009 Awards for Excellence gala dinner held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Boundary Bend was selected from an esteemed list of finalists - Meredith Dairy, Marinova Pty Ltd and The Chia Company.


“Whilst all businesses face regular challenges, as a pioneering company in an emerging industry the challenges we have faced, from having to design and manufacture our own olive harvesters to developing unique irrigation and processing techniques to satisfy the requirements of an ancient crop in a new growing environment, have lead to a very innovative culture within our business” commented Leandro Ravetti, the company’s Technical Director. 


“It is extremely satisfying to receive recognition for our achievements, particularly as our company experienced a very challenging 6-month period following the Timbercorp collapse”.


“We are extremely grateful for the assistance we have received from RIRDC, which has and continues to be a terrific support for the research and development activities we have undertaken”.


The award completes a successful week for Boundary Bend Limited, having earlier received the Australian Olive Association’s highest honour with the company’s Cobram Estate branded olive oil being recognized as Australia’s top olive oil in 2009 at the National Olive Conference in Canberra on Tuesday.


“The outstanding quality of the Extra Virgin olive oil we are producing and marketing under the Cobram Estate brand is testament in itself to the successful innovations we have made since our business began in 1998” Leandro said. Earlier this month, Boundary Bend Limited announced the signing of a binding agreement to acquire the Timbercorp olive assets at Boort and Boundary Bend for $59.5 million.


The company was established in 1998 by Rob McGavin and Paul Riordan and was awarded the Monash University Export Award at the NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence in 2007.


 



Media inquiries:

Leandro Ravetti - Technical Director 
Boundary Bend Limited - Phone: 0407 694089 - Email: l.ravetti@modernolives.com.au  


Click Here to Download PDF File

5  Date: 21-12-2009       Leandro Ravetti speaks on Canadian radio

On Saturday 17th October 2009 Boundary Bend’s Technical Director Leandro Ravetti was interviewed on Canadian radio station CFUN Talk 1410 AM Vancouver.  Leandro spoke about Australian olive oil, its benefits over other olive oils being sold in the Canadian market, and Cobram Estate’s launch in Canada.  The show that Leandro appeared on, Buzz on Food and Wine with Tony and Kasey, is a radio show targeted to foodies and hosted by wine expert Anthony Gismondi and respected food writer Kasey Wilson.   

       Duration of Audio:  10 Mins 32 Secs


6  Date: 27-11-2009       Letter to Timbercorp Olive Growers
To read this letter, please follow the instructions below.
Click Here to Download PDF File

7  Date: 16-10-2009       Open Letter to Timbercorp MIS Olive Growers and Advisors

An open letter of explanation to all Timbercorp MIS Olive Growers and Advisors is attached.  Please download this letter by clicking on the link below.  If you experience any problems please contact us on (03) 5272 9500.

Click Here to Download PDF File

8  Date: 13-10-2009       Boundary Bend purchases Timbercorp olive assets
Boundary Bend Limited, Australia’s leading vertically integrated olive company, has successfully purchased all the Timbercorp olive assets at Boort and Boundary Bend for $59.5 million.

The agreement was reached today with the Timbercorp Liquidator, Korda Mentha, after a competitive sale process that took place over several months.

The assets purchased by Boundary Bend Limited include 6,012 hectares of olive groves at Boort and Boundary Bend; 26,121megalitres of permanent water rights on the Murray and Goulburn systems; an olive processing facility located at Boort; and Timbercorp’s 19.4% equity interest in Boundary Bend Limited will also be acquired.

Executive Chairman of Boundary Bend Limited, Rob McGavin, said “The purchase of the Timbercorp olive assets is a wonderful opportunity for Boundary Bend Limited and MIS growers alike.

“Importantly, these world class assets have been purchased by an Australian company protecting Australian jobs and earnings,” Mr McGavin said.

“The Timbercorp olive groves, which Boundary Bend has successfully managed for several years, have been a critical factor in the emergence of the Australian olive industry both locally and globally, through the quality of the oils produced at these groves and marketed under the Cobram Estate label.”

As part of the sale agreement, and unique to the olive asset sale, growers in Timbercorp’s olive managed investment scheme projects will be given the first right to a guaranteed entitlement allocation in BBL’s equity raising.

“If all Timbercorp olive MIS investors take up their individual entitlement, they will get 100% of the equity that Boundary Bend Limited plans to raise,” Mr McGavin said.

Once the acquisition has been completed, Boundary Bend Limited will have approximately 6,532ha (16,154 acres) of planted irrigated olive groves on 10,000ha (25,000 acres) of freehold land with 29,716 ML of permanent water rights.   BBL will also be the largest producer of Extra Virgin olive oil in the Southern Hemisphere by both area and production, and in the top 10 in the world.

The company was founded in 1998 by Rob McGavin and Paul Riordan and was awarded the Australian Agribusiness Exporter of the Year in 2007.

Media inquiries: Rob McGavin, 0418955363
Click Here to Download PDF File

9  Date: 10-07-2009       Boundary Bend achieves unprecedented results in record olive harvest
Investors in Timbercorp Limited’s (in Liquidation) olive projects received their first positive news for some time today when informed in a letter from their grove manager Boundary Bend Limited that the 2009 olive harvest was an unprecedented success.

Boundary Bend Limited, the manager of Timbercorp’s olive projects since October 2004, in an open letter to investors and advisors has announced a record oil harvest result that exceeded pre-harvest forecasts by 13%.

Boundary Bend Limited’s Managing Director, Paul Riordan is thrilled with the outcome.

“Boundary Bend Limited’s 2009 harvest produced a record seven million litres in total or approximately 2,000 litres per productive hectare versus an Australian industry average of 340 litres per hectare, a remarkable result considering the challenges we faced over the harvest period and that a significant percentage of the groves are just coming into production”.

“The harvest results mean that despite the challenges relating to the demise of Timbercorp, and subsequent stoppages during harvest, Boundary Bend Limited has produced an estimated 47% of Australia’s 2009 olive oil production on the groves we control despite them accounting for only about 13% of the productive area of olives in Australia.”

“In addition, the continuous improvement that Boundary Bend Limited has made on its own harvesters resulted in the mechanical fruit harvest being completed with final costs approximately 40% lower than the cost of manual harvesting in developing countries such as Argentina and Morocco”.

The 2009 crop, valued at over $30 million at current prices, will be sold by Boundary Bend Marketing Pty Ltd through its domestic and international customer base over the next 12 months, with shipments already on the way to the USA and Europe.

Leandro Ravetti, Technical Director of Boundary Bend Limited and Australia’s foremost olive expert, rates the 2009 extra virgin olive oil quality as equal to if not exceeding that of 2008. The crop achieved an average free fatty acid value of 0.2% across 7 million litres, an outstanding and unprecedented result.

“A selection of the 2009 oils received double gold and double silver medals two weeks ago at the largest olive oil competition in the USA, the LA County Fair, against the best oils from Italy, Spain and California amongst others. Boundary Bend Limited’s oils were the only Australian oils to receive a gold medal at this show” Mr. Ravetti commented.

In April 2009, Boundary Bend Limited, proactively lobbied for and eventually achieved through the courts, a method for continuing the harvest despite the lack of available funding from Timbercorp. This involved Boundary Bend Limited financing more than $11 million of expenses.

Without the efforts of Boundary Bend Limited, it is without question that the olive project investors would have lost this year’s crop and seriously compromised the 2010 crop.

Having completed the successful harvest, BBL will continue to work closely with the grower groups and KordaMentha to try and secure a fair plan for the olive operations moving forward.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Riordan - Managing Director

Boundary Bend Limited - Phone: 0419 898 071

Email: p.riordan@boundarybend.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Boundary Bend Limited (www.boundarybend.com)

Boundary Bend Limited currently manages over 6,500 hectares or 2.5 million olive trees in Australia for Timbercorp Limited (in Liquidation). Starting from small beginnings in 1998, Boundary Bend Limited currently employs 100 full time staff across rural and regional Victoria. Recently the Boundary Bend Limited managed olive grove at Boort was named Australia’s 2008 Grove of the Year. This follows Boundary Bend Limited being awarded the Australian Agribusiness Exporter of the year in 2007, ‘Olive Grower of the Year’ in 2005 and was the most awarded producer in the 2008 Australian extra virgin olive oil awards. Boundary Bend Limited is the pre-eminent marketer of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil through its subsidiary’s Boundary Bend Marketing and Cobram Estate.
Click Here to Download PDF File

10  Date: 04-05-2009       Boundary Bend Defers Olive Harvest
The Boundary Bend Limited Group (BBL) is the contracted manager of Timbercorp’s 6,530 hectares of olive groves.

The harvest by BBL of the olive groves at the Boort Estate and the Boundary Bend Estate commenced very recently, but the majority of the harvest is scheduled to take place during the balance of May and June 2009.

Since the appointment of Voluntary Administrators to the Timbercorp Group, BBL has continued with the harvest in the interests of all stakeholders in the knowledge that the Administrators and their advisers have been working continuously on a solution to fund completion of the harvest.

This task has been unusually difficult due to the complexity of the legal structures and number of parties involved.

In principle agreement has been reached with the Administrators to enable the harvest to be funded.  The Administrators have made an application to the court for approval of that agreement.  It is expected that this application will be heard by the court in the next 48 hours and if the proposed arrangement is approved by the court this will enable the harvest to be completed.

BBL is continuing to do everything within its power to ensure that the harvest is completed but cannot continue with the harvest until final agreement is reached with the Administrators.

For further information please contact Executive Chairman of Boundary Bend, Rob McGavin on 0352729500.
Click Here to Download PDF File

11  Date: 17-11-2008       Cobram’s oil comes from Australia’s best grove!
The award for Australia’s olive grove of the year in 2008 has gone to the Victorian grove contributing to many of Cobram Estate’s multi award winning extra virgin olive oils.

Boort Estate, located 120km northwest of Bendigo, won the coveted prize of Olive Grove of the Year at a recent awards ceremony hosted by the Australian Olive Association.

The estate comprises almost 1 million trees on an area covering 2,800ha.

Cobram Estate Marketing Manager Ashley Read said extra virgin olive oil from the Boort grove contributed to many of Cobram’s award winning oils, along with the Boundary Bend and Cobram Estate grove in northern Victoria. Boundary Bend Estate won the inaugural Olive Grove of the Year award in 2005.

“Boort is where the magic starts for many of our much-loved extra virgin olive oils that you will find on the supermarket shelves,” he said.

“This grove delivers us a very reliable supply of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil for domestic and international sales.”

Cobram Estate has enjoyed a stellar year in the national award circuit, outclassing its competitors in most categories to end the year with a total of 34 awards.

“This accolade tops off what has been a well-rounded year of recognition for Cobram Estate,” Mr Read said.
Click Here to Download PDF File

12  Date: 13-10-2008       Triple medal win seals Cobram Estate’s place in Australian supermarkets
Triple medal win seals Cobram Estate’s place in Australian supermarkets

The good oil is in the supermarket aisle; Cobram Estate’s multi-award winning Extra Virgin Olive Oil that is!

The superior taste, freshness and value of Cobram Estate’s supermarket variety olive oils were recognised at the recent Perth Royal Show with two gold and one silver medal for:

• Fresh & Fruity - Gold Medal and Best Oil in Show

• Rich & Robust - Gold Medal

• Light & Delicate - Silver Medal

Cobram Estate’s vision to plant premium tree varieties that would produce the finest oil quality to consumer markets has become a reality as the local company outclassed its competitors.

Overwhelmed with pride and satisfaction, Marketing Manager Ashley Read said the Cobram Estate team was still celebrating its recent wins.

“The award success we have received is a direct result of the time Cobram Estate invests in its products to ensure that it delivers the best and most satisfying Extra Virgin Olive Oil,” Read said.

“We are pleased that Australian supermarkets are proud stockists of our products, all of which are 100% grown, produced, and packaged locally – and all by Cobram Estate!”

Cobram Estate credits its market-leader status to specialised staff and unique processing techniques, which have allowed for constant product development of new flavour profiles.

“Cobram Estate is a driver in unique flavoured oils,” Read said.

“We understand and value the importance of consumer education and have developed this over the past 12 months by encouraging our customers to stock more than one flavour of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and to experiment with the flavours.”

Cobram Estate’s recent winning varieties are unique from other brands, and from each other.

• Fresh & Fruity is a must-have, multi-award winning and aromatic oil. Its multi-faceted applications can slide anywhere from the sizzling sides of a kitchen wok to the white dipping dish on a gourmet antipasto platter. Awarded for the Best oil in Show, it’s an all-round winner.

• But if you like your dinner-parties with a little more pep, the Rich & Robust variety is a perfect selection! Let the aromas diffuse the room as this intense oil gives a flavoursome boost to sauces, stews and savoury treats. This back-to-back Gold Winner sits nicely alongside the Fresh & Fruity variety in any pantry. This is the second 2008 gold for Rich & Robust. This superior product also won the gold in the 2008 NSW Northern Extra Virgin Olive Oil show.

• It’s only natural to kick in to neutral mode from time-to-time, so take a healthy breather and let Cobram Estate’s Light & Delicate variety provide comfort and delicacy to the very finest of foods. Mild in flavour and new to the shelf, Cobram’s baby has silver-award winning status and is ideal for all cooking applications.

For further details please contact Ashley Read on (03) 9646 6081 or visit www.cobramestate.com.au.
Click Here to Download PDF File

13  Date: 16-06-2008       Cobram Estate Wins Gold in LA
Cobram Estate recently entered two of our premium Australian extra virgin olive oils into the 2008 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.  The results have been announced with Cobram Estate winning the following awards:

Cobram Estate Rich & Robust – GOLD Medal, Australian Blends Category

Cobram Estate Picual – BRONZE Medal, Australian Mono Cultivar Category

The competition, now in its sixth year, was held on 27-29th May 2008.  The Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition has grown from 28 entries in its inaugural year in 2000 to nearly 400 entries in 2008. It is judged in two categories – domestic and international – separated according to regional designations and fruitiness intensity levels.  Award winning entries will be displayed at 86th anniversary of the LA County Fair, September 5 – 28, 2008.
Click Here to Download PDF File

14  Date: 14-05-2008       BBL success in Italian olive oil competition
Recently, Boundary Bend Limited (BBL) entered two of our premium extra virgin olive oils in one of Italy’s most prestigious olive oil competitions, “ARMONIA”.  We are pleased to announce the following outstanding results:

Categoria Fruttato Medio (Oils category Medium Fruity)

Gran Mention Diploma & 3rd place
 

         - Boundary Bend Ltd “Picual” - AUSTRALIA

Best Chemical Composition, Southern Hemisphere

Gran Mention Diploma


         - Cobram Estate, “Rich & Robust” - AUSTRALIA

The 2nd International Olive Oil Competition “ARMONIA” -ALMA Trophy- is organised by the International Extravirgin Oliveoil Agency in collaboration with ALMA – The International School of Italian Cooking directed by Gualtiero Marchesi and CRA – Centro di Ricerca per l’Olivicoltura e l’Industria Olearia (Olive Research institute).

More than 270 olive oils participated to the competition, from countries including Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Slovenia, Croatia, Ex Jugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Turchia, Cypro, Iran, Iraq, Sirya, Palestina, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, USA, Australia, Chile and New Zealand.
Click Here to Download PDF File

15  Date: 02-05-2008       Let the Harvest Begin!!!
Boundary Bend Ltd is pleased to announce the commencement of our 2008 olive harvest.  Harvesting and processing commenced in earnest at our groves on Monday 14th April and is projected to continue until early June.  This year we will be harvesting approximately 1.5 million trees at various stages of maturity spread over almost 4,500 hectares in Northern Victoria.  

This week we commissioned new decanters at our sites bringing our total combined crushing capacity to around 60 tonnes of olives/hour.  We anticipate our total Extra Virgin Olive Oil production to be 5.0 – 6.0 million litres, approximately 50% of Australia’s forecast 2008 crop.  The first oil of the season is a very, very nice Arbequina with good fruit, sweet apple and strawberry notes.

The first oil of the season – Arbequina                                                Ripe Arbequina



BBE processing plant                                                                        Boort Processing Plant



The ‘Colossus’ harvesting at Boort                                                     Grape harvester on young trees at BBE


16  Date: 01-05-2008       Boundary Bend Limited offers olive investment opportunity in Argentina
Australia’s largest olive oil producer and marketer, Boundary Bend Limited (BBL), has announced plans to expand its operations overseas. 

BBL has purchased 1,500 hectares of undeveloped land in the San Juan region of central-west Argentina.  

“This area of Argentina has a number of large scale horticultural projects and the land itself is well suited to the production of high quality extra virgin olive oil with access to ample water” commented Rob McGavin, Executive Chairman.

The purchase of the land in Argentina is an important step in BBL’s strategy to build a global olive oil business.  According to BBL’s marketing manager, Tim Smith, having access to premium quality olive oil from Argentina will allow BBL to grow its supply to an increasingly diversified international customer base. 

“With global demand for olive oil growing rapidly as a result of changing cooking styles and the superior health benefits of olive oil, and carryover stocks at all time lows, forecast demand for our premium oil is very strong” Smith said.

BBL has a close and thorough understanding of the Argentinean olive industry. BBL’s executive Technical Director Leandro Ravetti is an Argentinean national, who is acknowledged as one of the world’s most experienced and respected olive advisors and researchers. 

“Purchasing a property with ideal agronomic conditions, almost unlimited water, economies of scale and BBL’s management and knowledge of the Argentinean olive industry, combine to make this a very sound and exciting olive project” commented Mr Ravetti.

Andrew Burgess, BBL’s new business manager, believes BBL’s Argentine grove offers a unique and exciting opportunity for investors seeking dual exposure to the boom in demand for soft commodities and health orientated food products.

BBL is currently talking to potential investors including Agribusiness funds, Superannuation funds, Investment banks and high net worth individuals regarding investment opportunities in this project.

BBL currently manages over 6,500 hectares or 2.5 million olive trees in Australia and will this year produce approximately 48% of Australia’s olive oil crop.  Starting from small beginnings in 1998 the company now employs 110 full time staff and manages over $250 million of olive assets.

For more information, please contact Rob McGavin on 0418 955 363 or email bbl@boundarybend.com
Click Here to Download PDF File

17  Date: 26-11-2007       Boundary Bend Wins 2007 Australian Agribusiness Exporter of the Year
Boundary Bend Limited, Australia’s premier olive company, has been named the 2007 Australian Agribusiness Exporter of the year at the Australian Export Awards held in Brisbane last Thursday, November 22.  Boundary Bend was selected from an esteemed list of finalists that included Pernot Ricard Pacific, Namoi Cotton Co-operative, Pacific Seeds, Craig Mostyn Group and Tasman Group Services.

This prestigious award for Boundary Bend Limited follows recent successes including the 2007 Governor of Victorian Agribusiness Exporter of the Year, and the 2007 exporter of the year at the NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence.

Established in 1998, Boundary Bend has become Australia’s leading vertically-integrated olive oil producer and marketer with over two million trees under management and operations on 7 different locations across Victoria including Boort, Boundary Bend, Lara, Mildura and Port Melbourne. 

In 2007 Boundary Bend produced almost 4 million litres of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil, equating to over 40% of Australia’s total olive oil production.  The company exports about 50% of their crop, and achieved export value growth of 1,400% on 2004/5.

Boundary Bend and the Australian olive industry have overcome countless hurdles over the past five years, including the recent changes to Managed Investment Scheme laws, drought, and excessive import tariffs to Europe where 70% of the world’s olive oil is consumed.   In overcoming these challenges Boundary Bend has established themselves as the leading exporter of Australian extra virgin olive oil and a significant player in the global premium olive oil category. 

“The company’s success in the face of significant challenges is a testament to the quality of our extra virgin olive oil and the efforts of our 120 fantastic staff.  I am very proud of our entire team’s contribution that has enabled us to secure this prestigious award” commented Boundary Bend Executive Chairman, Rob McGavin.

Boundary Bend currently exports to over 15 countries and is a major supplier of bulk olive oil and value-added products under their Cobram Estate retail brand.  Boundary Bend’s strategic relationship with Timbercorp has been a key to enabling the company to grow and supply burgeoning overseas demand for extra virgin olive oil.

BBL was awarded the inaugural ‘Olive Grower of the Year’ in 2005 by the Australian Olive Association, and was the most awarded producer in the 2005 and 2006 Australian extra virgin olive oil awards.

For further information please contact Executive Chairman, Rob McGavin or General Manager Marketing, Tim Smith or visit www.boundarybend.com.







Rob McGavin

Executive Chairman

Boundary Bend Limited

Phone: 0418 955 363

Email: mcgavin@riverland.net.au

Tim Smith

General Manager Marketing

Boundary Bend Limited

Phone: 0408 268 323

Email: timsmith@boundarybend.com

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18  Date: 02-11-2007       Olive Oil Company wins Prestigious Agribusiness Export Award

Boundary Bend Limited (BBL), Australia’s premier olive company, is the winner of the 2007 Monash University Export Award at the NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence, awarded at a gala dinner on Wednesday 31st October 2007.  BBL was also recently awarded the 2007 Governor of Victoria Agribusiness Award.

BBL was selected from a panel of five finalists and was presented the Export Award for its demonstration of:

 Impact of exports on overall business performance (growth in exports, revenue and percentage of sales)

 Demonstration of market oriented export behavior

 Product development for export markets

 Profitable entry into a new market

 Quality of export marketing plan

Established in 1998, BBL has become Australia’s leading fully-integrated olive oil producer with over two million trees under management.  In 2007 BBL produced almost 4 million litres of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil, equating to over 40% of Australia’s total olive oil production.  

“This recognition is a great thrill for our company and is reward for the enormous effort and supply chain investment made by our business over the past nine years,” commented BBL Executive Chairman Rob McGavin. “It is particularly satisfying given the structural challenges Australian olive growers face overseas when competing against heavily subsidized European oils.”

Over the past three years BBL has established itself as the leading exporter of Australian extra virgin olive oil and a significant player in the global premium olive oil category.  According to General Manager of Marketing, Tim Smith, in the financial year 2006/7 season about 50% of BBL’s oil sales were to export markets, totalling 1.2 million litres and delivering export value growth of 1,400% on 2004/5.

“Our rapid growth is largely attributable to the superior quality of the oil produced under BBL management, strict attention to customer requirements, a focus on integrity and service in all customer dealings, and a willingness to adapt the product offer to satisfy the varying needs of our customers” Smith said.

“Whilst our industry remains in its relative infancy, we have realised unprecedented demand that continues to drive growth in our export sales.  Our strategic relationship with Timbercorp has been a key to enabling us to grow supply to keep up with burgeoning overseas demand”.

BBL’s export strategy focuses on supplying its customers with a consistent premium-quality product that is consistent in every way and fully traceable from tree to table through our vertically integrated supply chain.  The company is a major supplier of bulk olive oil to strategic high-value customers, and of value-added products under the “Cobram Estate” brand and supermarket private label brands.

BBL’s diverse range of customers includes food service and retail customers across the USA, boutique bottlers in Spain and Italy (who use Australian oil to freshen blends during the second half of the year when Australian olive oil is fresh and local oil tiring), Tesco supermarket chain in the UK, and retail and hotel customers in Thailand.

BBL was awarded the inaugural ‘Olive Grower of the Year’ in 2005 by the Australian Olive Association, and was the most awarded producer in the 2005 and 2006 Australian extra virgin olive oil awards.  The company was also a finalist in the Primary Producer of the Year category at the NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence.

-Ends-

For further information or product images please contact Rob McGavin, Executive Chairman or Tim Smith, General Manager Marketing for Boundary Bend, or visit our website www.boundarybend.com.

Rob McGavin                                                  Tim Smith

Executive Chairman                                        General Manager Marketing

Boundary Bend Limited                                   Boundary Bend Limited

Phone: 0418 955 363                                      Phone: 0408 268 323

Email: mcgavin@riverland.net.au                      Email: timsmith@boundarybend.com


19  Date: 04-10-2007       Boundary Bend Limited wins Governor of Victoria 2007 Agribusiness Export Award.

Boundary Bend Limited was awarded Victorian Agribusiness Exporter of the Year at the 2007 Governor of Victoria Export Awards, held on Tuesday 2nd October at Government House, Melbourne. Boundary Bend is now a national finalist in the 2007 Australian Export Awards to be held in Brisbane on 22nd November.

Established in 1998, Boundary Bend has become Australia’s leading fully-integrated olive oil producer with over two million trees under management.  In 2007 Boundary Bend produced almost 4 million litres of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil, equating to over 40% of Australia’s total olive oil production.

Rob McGavin, Boundary Bend’s Executive Chairman is thrilled to receive this prestigious award.

“Our export business has experienced a period of dynamic growth over the past three years and has become a key driver for the continued growth of our business and the Australian olive industry.

“In 2006/7 we exported about 50% of our olive oil crop, equating to almost 2 million litres and delivering export value growth of 1,400% on 2004/5. We currently export to 15 countries with the strongest demand for our products coming from the United States and parts of Asia.

“Whilst our industry remains in its relative infancy, we have realised unprecedented demand that continues to drive growth in our export sales.

Boundary Bend’s export strategy focuses on supplying our customers a premium-quality product that is consistent in every way and fully traceable from tree to table through our vertically integrated supply chain.  The company is a major supplier of bulk olive oil to strategic high-value customers, and value-added products under the “Cobram Estate” brand and supermarket private label brands.

“We believe a real key to our success has been identifying and strategically targeting selected markets where consumers have a higher level of income and education combined with a desire to seek out premium food products.

“Added to this is Australia’s natural ability to produce the highest grade of olive oil – extra virgin – at a price that delivers a strong premium but remains competitive in global markets.

Finalists in this category were judged on innovation in marketing strategy, export growth achieved and the ability to sustain that growth, evidence of a sustainable competitive advantage, and the value of exporting to business expansion.

Boundary Bend Ltd was awarded ‘Olive Grower of the Year’ in 2005 by the Australian Olive Association, and was the most awarded producer in the 2005 and 2006 Australian extra virgin olive oil awards.

For further information or product images please contact Tim Smith, General Manager – Marketing for Boundary Bend, or visit our website www.boundarybend.com.

Tim Smith

General Manager Marketing

Boundary Bend

Phone: (03) 5272 9500

Email: timsmith@boundarybend.com


20  Date: 17-09-2007       New Products Deliver Multiple Gold to Cobram Estate

The launch of Cobram Estate's first single varietal oils and a new rich & robust oil have delivered immediate success in the 2007 Australian olive oils awards.

Last Tuesday, Cobram Estate Picual, a varietal oil produced from the renowned Picual olive tree variety, was awarded Champion Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Sydney Royal Show extra virgin olive oil competition.

On Thursday, Cobram Estate Rich & Robust, an exciting new product launched nationally in Coles, was awarded a gold medal and best in Class at the Perth Royal Show extra virgin olive oil awards.

Altogether Cobram Estate has won two gold, four silver and four bronze awards in the first week of Australian olive oil awards.  Ashley Read, Cobram Estate Marketing Manager is thrilled about the awards.

"I have so much confidence in the premium extra virgin olive oils we produce.  These results are a testament to the significant investment we have made in building a world class olive oil production system, and the thousands of hours of hard work that our operational staff put in to produce the highest quality oils possible”.

“This year has been the biggest yet for Cobram Estate; we have released five new products and put into place a new strategy which more clearly targets the needs of our customers in all markets.  Consumer interest and awareness of extra virgin olive oils has increased rapidly over the past two years, as has the reputation of the Cobram Estate brand for consistently providing consumers with oils of exceptional quality”.

“We are rewarding our customers by releasing single varietals and usage-targeted oils that will allow them to explore and experiment with various oils and choose the style of oil they like best, and at the same time strengthen their relationship and trust in the Cobram Estate brand”.

Cobram Estate released two new varietal based oils in July, Picual and Arbequina.  Both are Spanish olive varietals that are grown in northern Victoria.  Cobram Estate Picual is a medium to robust oil with complex rocket salad, green tomato and tomato leaf aromas.  The Picual grown in northern Victoria is widely considered to be some of the best in the world, even by the Spanish!  Cobram Estate Arbequina is a milder style oil with vibrant green banana and fresh cut grass aromas.

Cobram Estate rich & robust was launched nationally in Coles in July.  Created for the indulgence of the astute olive oil connoisseur, this rich & robust oil combines strong spicy aromas and complex fruity flavours with balanced intense bitterness and pungency.

Cobram Estate fresh & fruity, one of Australia’s most popular olive oils, continues to expand popularity with supermarket consumers and is delivering new options with the introduction of a three litre version and spray can.

Cobram Estate products are available nationally through Coles, Woolworths, Safeway and leading independent supermarkets and gourmet food stores.

For further information or product images please contact Ashley Read or visit our website                    www.cobramestate.com.au

Ashley Read

Marketing Manager

Phone: (03) 9646 6081

Email: ashley@cobramestate.com.au


21  Date: 26-07-2007       Waratah wire supporting Australia's olives
Victorian based Boundary Bend Ltd manages some 2.5 million olive trees, making it Australia’s largest manager of olive groves as well as the largest seller of olive oil to the domestic market. Through subsidiary Modern Olives it is also the largest commercial olive nursery in Australia, supplying more than half of Australia’s olive tree market.

This year Boundary Bend will plant 1866 hectares of olive trees using nearly 2600 kilometres of Waratah trellis wire, an investment of around $300,000.

22  Date: 06-07-2007       BBL is the pre-eminent marketer of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil through our subsidiary’s Boundary Bend Marketing and Cobram Estate.
BBL is the pre-eminent marketer of premium Australian extra virgin olive oil through our subsidiary’s Boundary Bend Marketing and Cobram Estate. We are also a manufacturer of olive harvesters, operators of Australia’s largest olive tree nursery and olive oil bottling, storage and laboratory facility, and innovators in all aspects of the “new world” olive industry.

23  Date: 02-07-2007       BBL is the largest manager of olive groves in Australia
BBL is the largest manager of olive groves in Australia, with currently 2.5 million trees under BBL management on 3 sites. Our own grove, located at Boundary Bend in north-west Victoria, is the flagship grove in the Australian industry and was awarded 'Olive Grower of the Year' by the Australian Olive Association in 2005.

24  Date: 07-04-2007       Regional companies copy brunt of government inaction on MIS

Boundary Bend Limited, Australia’s largest olive company, is just one rural Australian company that will bare the brunt of federal Government’s decision to ignore the impact of the Australian Tax Office’s sudden change in view of taxation laws for agricultural managed investment schemes, Managing Director, Rob McGavin said today.

Mr McGavin said the Boundary Bend has five rural sites across Victoria with 115 full time employees. The company will be forced to retrench staff.

“The company has spent millions of dollars preparing to fulfil contracts for future plantings and we have not got any time to restructure our business.

“All contractors, as well as small businesses and staff in these rural areas that rely on us will also be at financial risk through no fault of their own.

“I cannot believe a government which is supposed to be pro investment and pro regional Australia could create such devastation.

“The effect of refusing to allow product rulings from 1 July is essentially a retrospective decision. Horticulture has long lead times as preparation needs to start two years in advance,”

“We have spent huge sums of money growing olive trees and purchasing and preparing land that will not be even planted until spring 2007 and spring 2008, and sold through MIS in June 08 and June 09.

“Boundary Bend calls on the Government to honour this investment we have made in good faith by allowing product rulings to be issued until at least 1 July 2009.

“Minister Dutton has no idea of the impact this has on our business and has not consulted as he stated,” he said.


25  Date: 08-02-2007       Dutton derails growth in the bush
Over 50 permanent and 200 casual rural jobs and $100m of rural investment to be lost in the 12 months in the Victorian olive industry alone.

Growth in the agricultural industry driven by the availability of much needed capital has been derailed by the Howard Government.

Minister Dutton has reneged on a promise made in May 2006 saying that the Government would hold an objective enquiry into non-forestry MIS after dealing with forestry, and as a consequence has placed the future of regional agribusiness companies and rural communities at risk.

On Tuesday, Minister Dutton, announced the Federal Government’s position in relation to non-forestry agribusiness managed investment schemes.

The Minister announced that the Australian Taxation Office has reconsidered its interpretation of the current tax laws and, as a result, the ATO is preparing a draft Taxation Ruling which will apply to non-forestry MIS arrangements entered into after 30 June 2007. The effect of this change is that investors will no longer be able to claim upfront deductions for their contributions on the basis that the investor is “carrying on a business”.

Effectively, this will mean an end to the capital inflow that has contributed over $400m to the olive industry and created in excess of 560 jobs in rural Victoria alone.

“We are of the clear opinion that the consequences of this decision on the rural agribusiness industry and rural communities and its hasty application have not been well considered” commented Boundary Bend Limited Executive Chairman Rob McGavin.

BBL is just one of the many companies who provide a service to MIS operators.

“Our company operates on 5 rural sites across Victoria with 115 full-time employees and has spent millions of dollars preparing to fulfill contracts for future plantings. All of our contractors, as well as small businesses and staff in these rural areas that rely on us, will face financial uncertainty through no fault of their own. Already we have been forced to dismiss 20 staff and it is inevitable more will follow.”

“This is effectively retrospective legislation…Horticultural projects have very long lead times as preparation needs to start 2 years in advance of planting (6 years before potential investors receive a return on their investment). We have spent huge sums of money growing olive trees and purchasing and preparing land on behalf of MIS operators that would not be even planted until spring 2007 and spring 2008 and sold through MIS in June 2008 and June 2009.”

“With the capital no longer available, what are we now to do with the land, and who will compensate us for our investment?”

BBL Managing Director Paul Riordan, a resident of Mildura who oversees BBL’s operations in Mildura, Boundary Bend and Boort, has called on the government to allow a 2-year transition to allow businesses involved in MIS to restructure.

“As a consequence of Tuesday’s announcement, we are right now madly on the phone cancelling orders for goods, all being supplied from suppliers in our local area. Our bulldozer operator was just asked to stop mid row, the local builder from Nyah extending our office has been asked to cease work as of now. These contractors are all small operators who have booked in this work over the coming months. It’s their livelihood Mr. Dutton is playing with.”

“Some might find some other work, a lot have already said they will have to move from the area because there is no other work, things are very slow.”

“The MIS program has bought new life, prosperity and jobs to this region and I encourage the Federal Government to continue to support MIS as a means to continue developing Australian agriculture.”

“We urge the Federal Government to advise the ATO to keep issuing product ruling until at least 30 June 2009, this is the absolute minimum time we need to restructure our business to accommodate the changes and allow our contractors and employees to leave with dignity.”
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