Patties Foods Explained

Patties Food Group
Type:Subsidiary
Foundation:1966
Founder:Rijs family
Location:Bairnsdale, Australia
Area Served:Australia, New Zealand, USA, Japan, Singapore, Thailand. Taiwan, South Korea.
Key People:Paul Hitchcock (CEO)
Industry:Food
Products:Meat pies
Pastries
baked goods
frozen fruits and desserts
Pre Prepared Meals
Parent:PAG
Divisions:Four'n Twenty
Patties
Herbert Adams
Nanna's
Chefs Pride
Snowy River
Lean Cuisine
Fitness Outcomes
Ruffie Rustic Foods
On The Menu

Patties Foods, is an Australian food manufacturing company that produces meat pies, baked goods, frozen fruits, and pre-made desserts. Patties Foods is represented in the Australian market by the Four'n Twenty, Patties, Herbert Adams, Nanna's, Chefs Pride, Boscastle and Snowy River brands. Patties is the largest Meat pie producing company in Australia, and the world. They are the producers of several well-known Meat pies, including the Patties, Snowy River pie, Herbert Adams pie, and as of 2003, Four'n Twenty pies. Patties Foods is headquartered in Bairnsdale, Victoria.

History

Patties Foods was founded as Patties Bakeries. Originally a cake shop in Lakes Entrance, in August 1966 Patties Bakery, originally named for the owner's wife Patty Neat,[1] was purchased by Peter and Annie Rijs, whom emigrated from the Netherlands in 1956. In 1967 the Rijs family began to build business by introducing pies and bread rolls. The demand for Patties' product increased, prompting a series of shops and bakeries to be built, bought and sold. In 1985 a new factory was built and production was moved to Bairnsdale, where it continues to this day.

The business continued to expand over the years, Patties began distribution in Melbourne in 1986, and in 1995 exporting to New Zealand. In 1993, Patties launched Arriba, a Mexican food range. In 1996, after pastry sales grew, Patties sold its bread business to Sunicrust in order to concentrate on pastry products. Demand for pastry products continued to grow, resulting in significant expansions to the factory. In 1998, a two million dollar plant renovation and extension took place, including installation of a spiral freezer. In 2000, a new parallel manufacturing line, capable of making all pasties, sausage rolls and finger foods, was installed, substantially increasing capacity.

Australian brands Four'n Twenty, Herbert Adams and Nanna's were purchased from Simplot in 2003 and Patties began manufacturing the associated products in the Bairnsdale factory in 2004. In 2006, Patties was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame[2] and the Gippsland Business Awards Hall of Fame.

Patties Foods was publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2006.[3] The Rijs brothers, sons of the founding Mr and Mrs Rijs, retained 40% shareholding of the company. In 2007 Patties acquired the Chefs Pride and Creative Gourmet businesses,[4] and introduced gluten free foods to its product roster.[5]

In early 2015 a recall was ordered on Nanna's frozen berries which had been imported from China and Chile, after five people contracted hepatitis A.[6] In November 2016 Patties was purchased by Pacific Equity Partners and delisted from the ASX.[7] In September 2022 Patties was sold to PAG.[8] [9]

Brands and product lines

Patties Pies

Pies, pasties, sausage rolls and quiches in three different sizes (standard, party and mini party), there is also a gluten free range of patties pies and a vegan roll.

Four'n Twenty

Pies, including the 'traveller pie', pasties and sausage rolls.

Wedgewood

Pies, party pies and sausage rolls.

Nanna's

Frozen fruit, family and snack sized fruit pies, waffles, danishes, crumbles and jam filled donuts.

Herbert Adams

A range of gourmet pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

Snowy River

Pies, pasties and sausage rolls in two different sizes (standard and party).

Patties Foodservice

A range of bistro items, desserts, finger foods, fruits, vegetable and specialty items which are supplied to hotels, restaurants and other leading hospitality establishments.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patties Foods - Company History. 27 April 2014. 27 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140427221327/http://www.patties.com.au/about-us/company-history.htm. dead.
  2. News: Makers, big and small, get place in spotlight. The Age. 27 April 2014.
  3. Web site: PATTIES FOODS LTD (PFL). Australian Securities Exchange. 27 April 2014.
  4. News: Patties Foods warns of impact of costs. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309073624/https://www.theage.com.au//business/patties-foods-warns-of-impact-of-costs-20071121-1bxr.html. 2016-03-09. 2019-09-04. The Age. 21 November 2007.
  5. News: Gluten free drives a new mini-industry. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307102347/https://www.theage.com.au//national/gluten-free-drives-a-new-miniindustry-20070831-wg6.html. 2016-03-07. 2019-09-04. The Age. 31 August 2007.
  6. Web site: Distributor of frozen berries linked to hepatitis A defends response.. 15 February 2015. 15 February 2015. ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  7. https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160927/pdf/43bhg28gr1bj40.pdf Pacific Foods Limited: Removal from Official List
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915235227/https://www.afr.com/street-talk/pe-firm-pag-gets-patties-vesco-in-two-headed-food-deal-20220914-p5bi38 PE firm PAG gets Patties Foods, Vesco in $550m deal
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20220916000249/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/iconic-aussie-food-brands-four-n-twenty-lean-cuisine-sold-to-hong-kong-investment-giant-20220915-p5bicf.html Iconic Aussie food brands Four’n’Twenty, Lean Cuisine sold to Hong Kong investment giant