The Australian Agricultural Company Limited (AAco), a publicly listed agribusiness with assets of $1.1 billion, is a world-leading provider of beef and agricultural products.
Founded in 1824, AAco is the oldest continuously operating company in Australia and the country’s largest beef producer. It runs more than 600,000 head of cattle, operates 19 cattle stations, two feedlots and three farms on more than 7.2 million hectares of land across Queensland and the Northern Territory – which roughly equates to 1.1 per cent of Australia's land mass.
AAco’s Beef Group, part of a vertically integrated supply chain, specialises in the production and export of premium boxed beef –grass-fed, grain-fed and the highly prized Wagyu – which is sold to 25 countries around the world.
With an estimated production of more than 30,000 head a year, AACo’s Beef Group is the largest producer of Wagyu beef in the world.
AAco’s beef brand strategy differentiates products on quality, genetics, feeding regimes and levels of marbling. The company attributes the success of its export business to a marketing and distribution strategy which underpins strong relationships, effective brands, and the global reputation of its Wagyu beef.
During 2011-12, AAco achieved year-on-year export sales growth of 10 per cent to $97.5 million, with substantial growth in traditional markets such as the US and Korea. At the same time, new export markets have been developed in Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Qatar, and in Europe.
The Australian Export Award judges commended this iconic company for the quality of their paddock-to-plate story and their strong profitability, noting that AAco is well-managed, well-capitalised and high performing, with an extensive marketing program which has assisted in gaining and securing market share.
For more information about the Australian Agricultural Company, go to: www.aaco.com.au.