MELBOURNE, Australia, November 10 /PRNewswire/ -- An Australian privately owned cattle company which exports its product to Asia, the Middle East and Europe, has won the most keenly contested Export Award in the agribusiness sector.

Stanbroke, privately owned by the Menegazzo family and now considered the largest vertically integrated beef business in the world, was awarded the 2009 NAB Agricultural Award for Excellence (Export), at a gala event in Melbourne earlier this month.

Despite the economic downturn and large fluctuations in the value of the Australian dollar, Stanbroke's beef sales for 2009 grew significantly, with export sales accounting for 75% of the company's total sales.

Its signature Diamantina beef is now branded in 620 stores spread across nine countries, up from 100 stores in 2007. Stanbroke is one of only a few plants in Australia eligible to export to all global markets, including Halal.

"It's been a successful growth period for us, which we put down to a few factors," said Stanbroke Marketing Manager Glen Thompson.

"Our customers around the world want traceability, safety, quality product and quality assurance, which we guarantee because we own and control every step of the beef production process," he said.

"Secondly, Stanbroke's growth reflects its commitment to being as close as possible to the consumer in order to drive costs out of the chain and receive real market signals.

"Our focus this year has been direct to retail, building close relationships with a small number of customers and allowing the company to value add its product by providing additional services and customer support.

"It's a strategy that has resonated with our customers," Thompson said. "They value the quality of the relationship as well as the product."

2009 also saw a renewed brand for Stanbroke and the introduction of an extended product range with Diamantina Wagyu, Diamantina Platinum and a new mirror brand, Circle 8 now in-store.

"This award is testament to the efforts of Stanbroke's 500 staff and we thank them," said Mr. Thompson.

Notes to the Editor:

Stanbroke's ownership of each aspect of its supply chain includes:

* 200,000 head of cattle managed by Stanbroke Properties across eight properties in the Gulf region of Queensland, with comparatively reliable rainfall, facilitating the supply of consistent quality cattle.

* The use of herd bulls bred by Stanbroke, allowing total control of herd genetics and further enhancing consistency of quality.

* Stanbroke Feedlot, south west of Chinchilla, Queensland, has a capacity of 13,000 head.

* Stanbroke Processing, east of Toowoomba in Queensland is AQIS, Aus Meat and foreign authority accredited to export and is third party audited weekly (on average). Stanbroke processes all cattle under industry IVISA/EQA grading protocols.

* Stanbroke Marketing handles the sale and distribution of beef and co products domestically and internationally to over 20 countries.

    
    Media contact:

    Andrea Sackson, ARC Communication
    andreasackson@arcpr.com.au
    +61-414-672-318