Thomas Foods International takes over Frew Foods, plans $100m abattoir upgrade

Meat processing giant Thomas Foods is planning a $100m upgrade of Frew Foods’ abattoir in western Victoria after taking over full ownership of the company.

Thomas Foods International managing director Darren Thomas. Picture: Brad Fleet

Meat processing giant Thomas Foods International is planning a $100m upgrade of Frew Foods International’s abattoir in western Victoria after taking over full ownership of the company.

Thomas Foods acquired a 50 per cent stake in Frew Foods in 2020, and took over full ownership from the Frew family at the start of July.

Frew’s lamb production facility in Stawell is the town’s largest employer, with about 500 workers processing up to 900,000 lambs and sheep each year for local and overseas markets, including the US and Canada.

Thomas Foods’ upgrade of the facility will include a new cold store and logistics hub, an extension of the lamb boning room, new offices and upgrades to employee amenities, a new protein processing plant and a new facility to process skins on site.

The project will increase the company’s workforce at Stawell to around 750 full-time workers.

Thomas Foods managing director Darren Thomas said the investment would provide a significant economic boost for the region.

“Robert (Frew) and his father Arch have created an outstanding local operation which we will look to grow further in the future,” he said.

“We have exciting plans for Stawell within our national and international operations and as such we’re looking to invest significantly here for the long term.”

The Frew meat processing company was established by the late Arch Frew in 1984, with his son Robert managing the company since 1999.

Robert has departed the business - which will be renamed Thomas Foods International Stawell - as part of the sale.

He said the deal secured the long-term future of the Stawell facility.

“I am leaving the business in extremely strong Australian hands,” he said.

“Our families have known each other well over two generations and since TFI took a 50 per cent stake in the company they have proven to be a fully committed partner that will take this operation well into the future.

“For me personally, this marks the end of a chapter for our family but I leave proud of what we have built over the years and excited for what lies ahead for everyone associated with the Stawell operation.”

Thomas Foods is one of Australia’s largest meat processors, with plants in Tamworth and Bourke in NSW, Stawell in Victoria and Lobethal in South Australia.

In May it commenced production at a new abattoir near Murray Bridge, south-east of Adelaide, five years after a fire destroyed the company’s previous facility in the town.