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Inside industry: Grains

Inside industry is a new feature for Food Talk focussing on the industry development teams withing PIRSA Agriculture, Food and Wine. The PIRSA Grains Industries Group focuses on whole of chain sustainable industry development in order to realise the full potential of the grains industries' contribution to the South Australian economy.

A fine flour business model

Weston Milling Plain Flour

Weston Milling’s Port Adelaide Flour Mill is building and maintaining its business through strong relationships with customers and suppliers alike.

Personal service, quality assurance and a positive outlook are important attributes of the company and its 30 South Australian staff.

"Our business model is to be close to our market. The Port Adelaide mill allows us to have a close relationship with our grain growers, offer personal service to our customers and keep one of our biggest expenses – transport costs – to a minimum", says Paul Martin, Sales Manager, South Australia/Northern Territory.

"Our aim is to build capacity in the mill and keep employees and suppliers in business. Our customers like to deal locally; and South Australia is different, you need to know the market."

Weston Milling produces a large range of flour products to supply over 200 bakeries and cafes throughout South Australia. Tip Top is their largest customer purchasing 300 tonnes of flour per week.

As well as suppling flour products, Weston Milling also sells by-product stockfeed to Lauke and Australian Pork Farms, a sought after commodity with high grain prices and current drought conditions.

"We are looking to diversify into new flours and new markets for our by-products. We recently started producing Atta flour for the Indian market in Adelaide and Melbourne and we are looking at opportunities in the aquaculture industry for by-product feed," said Paul.

Wheat is sourced from local growers.

"We prefer to deal directly with growers. It allows the company to source wheat of consistent quality to meet specific requirements."

The mill is quality assured with external auditors used every six months and customer audits done regularly.

"There is a high level of quality assurance through the supply chain with pressure increasing on grain growers to introduce quality assurance into their businesses."

For more info?

Contact
Paul Martin
Weston Milling
p +61 8 8241 3325
e paul_martin@gwf.com.au

A grain growing relationship

Weston Milling Flour

Ricky Miles, a grain grower near Bordertown in the state’s South East, has been supplying grain to Weston Milling for 10 years. Ricky values the relationship he has established with the company and appreciates the opportunity to follow the grain from paddock to plate.

"It is interesting to follow the product through the supply chain and receive direct feedback from the end users. Weston Milling are excellent to work with; the staff, their flexibility and the trusting relationship we have with each other is excellent," says Ricky Miles.

Weston Milling is the only company to include an "act of god" clause in their forward contracts, which means growers do not have to wash out contracts if their crop is affected by unforseen weather events.

"The “act of god" clause is very comforting from a grower’s perspective, especially in the low rainfall years we have been experiencing recently."

While this year’s yield has been approximately 50 per cent below average, the price received has been higher and Ricky sees a sound future for the grains industry and Weston Milling.

"I think there is a great future. There is the opportunity to build on the grower alliance and relationships. We value the support and feedback about our product and what customers are demanding."

For further details?

Contact
Ricky Miles
p +61 418 803 082
e covestation@bigpond.com

Food Talk, Autumn 2008 (Issue 26)