Galati family launches Spudshed milk brand

Spud King Tony Galati hopes his company’s foray into the world of milk sales will strengthen the future of fresh milk supply in Western Australia.

Galati Group has signed a contract for 90,000 liters of whole milk and 18,000 liters of HiLo milk from Bega Group, which has a processing plant in Bentley, to produce its own Spudshed range, which will hit shelves on December 1.

Galati Group chief executive Frank Galati said Spudshed’s branded milk would support the state’s dairy sector and be competitive for consumers.

“We are working to sign long-term agreements with Bega [farmers]and work directly with it [farmers]he said.

“[Bega] They deal directly with farmers and are all about working with farmers to ensure they get a sustainable price on the farm.

“We’ve been spreading the Spudshed story all over the place and this was a good opportunity to put the Spudshed name on some milk.”

Spudshed will initially focus on two main dairy products – full cream and HiLo, Mr. Galati said.

The milk will be sold in two- and three-litre bottles at all 19 Spudshed outlets.

Tony Galati said support for locally produced milk will keep money circulating around the state.

“You travel a little bit and find that there isn’t a lot of fresh milk abroad,” he said.

“It’s all about long-life milk and I hope Australia doesn’t go that way.

“This is a milk that West Australians will enjoy. It’s produced in WA by West Australians, for West Australians.”

Tony Galati said Spudshed would continue to stock Harvey Fresh and Brownes’ milk ranges.

Spudshed’s milk brand launch comes fresh off the back of further stakes in the apple industry through the $14 million acquisition of two orchards in Manjimup.

Tony Galati said Galati Group’s efforts to expand the apple industry will lift up a sector that has been hit hard in recent years by high labor costs, low yields and growers switching to avocado cultivation.

“Apple prices are very expensive right now,” he said.

“We can’t blame the growers because the situation was really difficult and the cost of production – labor – was very expensive.

“There is a huge shortage and if something happens to the crop, it will suddenly affect the supply and therefore higher prices.

“This is why we are investing in these two apple plantations, because we will control the supply of apples coming directly to our customers.”