Read about ...

The big catch

South Australia’s newest Premier’s Food Awards Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Angelakis, is the popular public face of Angelakis Bros, a family business spanning three generations and the largest producer and distributor of seafood, poultry and game in South Australia.

Michael Angelakis Like his grandfather and father before him, a life lived by – and off – the sea was always on the cards for Michael Angelakis.

If the framed photographs that line his cheery but unassuming office perched high above Angelakis Bros processing plant in the heart of the Central Market district are anything to go by, it’s clearly a life that suits him.

Michael’s trademark smile is never far from his face in the images that tell the story of his life, with his wife and four children, cooking up a feast for his popular Out of the Blue television program, travelling the world to spread the good word about the South Australian food industry, ambassador, patron and supporter of a range of local charities and roles with various local food industry bodies.

The latest chapter is one close to his heart, inducted into the Premier’s Food Awards South Australian Food Industry Hall of Fame made possible by San Remo. However, he’s quick to deflect the success to others.

“To me it’s recognition of our industry and its contribution to the State’s food industry and to generations of family business. It also celebrates and rewards those that work for me,” said Michael.

The Hall of Fame judging panel were more effusive, however, citing not only the enduring success of Angelakis Brother, but also Michael’s passion and promotion of South Australian food, not only in seafood, but taking South Australian food to the world through Out of the Blue… and his tireless work for charity including 25 years as co-host of The Seafood Affair Luncheon which raises money for the Channel 9 Telethon.

The judges also noted his dedication to improving the South Australian food industry through his involvement in a range of seafood, food and tourism related boards, including the Premier’s Food Council.

The Angelakis family has been synonymous with the South Australian seafood industry since 1920, when Michael’s grandfather and namesake left his island home in the Aegean Sea to try his luck as a fisherman in Thevenard on the Eyre Peninsula.

Michael senior’s sons George and Nick joined the business in 1959, before George moved to Adelaide and bought a seafood stall at the Adelaide market in partnership with his brother’s and sister’s families. The combined seafood, poultry and game stalls became known as Angelakis Bros.

Michael joined the business in 1969 and soon became involved in all aspects of the retail business, including buying, selling, processing and management of the retail shop. He is credited with instigating the businesses marketing arm specialising in importing and exporting products to Europe, the United States and Asia, as well as establishing a national distribution network.

In 1985, Michael was appointed Managing Director and today heads a business employing 140 people and comprising two processing and distribution plants and three retail outlets.
Michael credits Angelakis Bros success to two things – the people that make up the business and the products themselves.

“You have to give people ownership of their position within your business, whether they are executives or fish filleters. The more they know and are involved with the business, the more likely they are to give back loyalty, commitment and longevity,” said Michael.

“The latter is an important plus in an industry that is still largely non-mechanised. There are no machines that fillet a fish or open an oyster and training people takes time.”

Michael says South Australia has many unique food products and can proudly compete on the world stage.

“I was visiting [seafood identity’s] Rick Stein’s business in Padstow, UK, recently as part of Out of the Blue and I was thrilled to see South Australian products such as Maggie Beer Products sitting on the shelves of his retail outlet and visitor’s centre. It blew me away to think he’d gone to all that trouble to stock our local products. It was great.”

He believes a key to the South Australian food industry’s ongoing success is to focus on the different seasons and work towards supplying products at strategic times.

Meanwhile, Michael plans to continue doing his bit for the industry, proudly spruiking South Australia’s food products to the world.

“Our offerings are good, and extremely competitive,” he says with another of those broad, infectious smiles. Who could argue with him?

For more information

Contact
Michael Angelakis
Angelakis Bros
p +61 8 8400 1300
w www.angelakis.com.au