Shepparton Preserving Company
Shepparton Preserving Company is an Australian fruit-processing and food-manufacturing business founded by Goulburn Valley growers.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Shepparton Preserving Company, commonly known as SPC, is an Australian food-manufacturing business rooted in the fruit-growing economy of Victoria's Goulburn Valley. It was established in 1917 by local fruit growers as a cooperative, initially under the name Shepparton Fruit Preserving Co. Ltd. Commercial production began in February 1918, with pears, peaches and nectarines packed in cans and sold under the SPC brand. The enterprise became a public listed company in 1919, making it one of the region's important industrial institutions as well as a major buyer of locally grown fruit. The business expanded alongside Australia's orchard and canning industries. Ardmona, another prominent Victorian fruit processor, began operations in 1921. In 2002, Shepparton Preserving Company and Ardmona merged to form SPC Ardmona, combining two established processing networks and brand portfolios. The combined business was acquired by Coca-Cola Amatil in 2005 for A$750 million. During that ownership period, Coca-Cola Amatil invested approximately A$250 million in infrastructure, while the Victorian Government contributed A$22 million through a co-investment arrangement. SPC Ardmona subsequently faced deteriorating market conditions, excess inventory, weaker domestic and export demand, and pressure on manufacturing economics. Its Mooroopna processing plant closed in 2011, and in 2012 the company disposed of approximately A$100 million of contracted fruit that it could not sell. The company reported a A$25 million loss in 2013, after having recorded a profit of A$70 million eight years earlier. It sought government assistance to modernise the Shepparton cannery, receiving Victorian support in 2014 after an earlier federal assistance proposal was rejected. Retailer relationships also came under pressure; Woolworths ended its contract for tinned tomatoes in 2016, although its tinned-fruit arrangement continued at that time. In 2019 Coca-Cola Amatil sold the SPC business to Shepparton Partners Collective, a consortium led by Hussein Rifai and associated with Perma Funds Management and The Eights. The transaction was reported at A$40 million upfront, with a possible further deferred payment linked to performance. As part of the restructuring, the IXL and Taylors brands and the Kyabram factory were sold to a group of local farmers and growers. The business later operated under the SPC Global name and pursued diversification beyond traditional canned fruit, including healthy beverages, ready-to-eat meals and other food categories. Acquisitions and launches associated with this period included Helping Humans, Kuisine Co. and The Good Meal Co. SPC became notable during the COVID-19 pandemic when, in August 2021, it mandated vaccination for employees, contractors and visitors attending its sites. The company reported consolidated profit after tax of A$11.8 million for the 2020–21 financial year and A$24 million for 2021–22, indicating an improvement from the losses experienced under its earlier ownership structure. In 2024, SPC Global combined with The Original Juice Company and Nature One Dairy. The enlarged group returned to the Australian Securities Exchange in December 2024 through a backdoor listing, trading under the ticker SPG. The broader group retained SPC as a major business unit and continued to market SPC, Goulburn Valley, Ardmona, ProVital, Pomlife, Helping Humans and other food and beverage brands. Although the Shepparton Preserving Company began as a cooperative fruit cannery, its legacy now forms part of a diversified Australian food and beverage group headquartered around the same regional manufacturing base.
History
Shepparton Preserving Company was created in 1917 by fruit growers in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, an area whose agricultural economy was increasingly dependent on reliable outlets for orchard production. The cooperative began operating in February 1918 and canned pears, peaches and nectarines under the SPC name. Its incorporation as a public listed company followed in 1919. The business helped establish fruit canning as a significant regional industry and became a major employer in and around Shepparton. Ardmona began processing in 1921 and developed into another major Victorian fruit brand. The two businesses merged in 2002, creating SPC Ardmona. Coca-Cola Amatil acquired the combined operation in 2005. Although the owner invested heavily in infrastructure, the business encountered declining demand, excess fruit, plant rationalisation and difficult negotiations with retailers. The Mooroopna plant closed in 2011, and the company disposed of a large quantity of unsold contracted fruit in 2012. Losses in 2013 prompted calls for public assistance and a modernisation program for the Shepparton cannery. Victorian Government support was announced in 2014. Woolworths later discontinued its tinned-tomato supply agreement in 2016, while continuing a tinned-fruit relationship at that point. The Kyabram factory was sold in 2019, and Coca-Cola Amatil sold the wider SPC business to Shepparton Partners Collective. The new ownership, later associated with SPC Global Limited, sought to refocus operations, dispose of selected legacy assets and diversify into beverages and prepared meals. It acquired or developed interests connected with Helping Humans, Kuisine Co. and The Good Meal Co. The company also retained a substantial portfolio of fruit and beverage brands, including SPC, Goulburn Valley, Ardmona, ProVital and Pomlife. In August 2021, the company introduced a COVID-19 vaccination requirement covering staff, contractors and visitors at its sites. Financial performance improved in the following reported financial years, with consolidated profit after tax of A$11.8 million in 2020–21 and A$24 million in 2021–22. In 2024, SPC Global merged with The Original Juice Company and Nature One Dairy. The enlarged group relisted on the ASX in December 2024 under SPG, bringing the century-old SPC business into a broader listed food and beverage platform.
- 2024
SPC Global merger and ASX relisting
[1]SPC Global combines with Original Juice Company and Nature One Dairy and relists on the ASX under SPG.
- 2021
Diversification into beverages and prepared meals
[1]The business expands into healthy beverages and ready-to-eat meals through new brands and acquisitions.
- 2019
Sold to Shepparton Partners Collective
[1]Coca-Cola Amatil sells the SPC business to a private investment consortium.
- 2011
Mooroopna plant closes
[1]SPC Ardmona closes its Mooroopna processing plant as part of operational restructuring.
- 2005
Acquired by Coca-Cola Amatil
[1]Coca-Cola Amatil acquires SPC Ardmona.
- 2002
SPC Ardmona is formed
[1]Shepparton Preserving Company merges with Ardmona.
- 1919
Becomes a public listed company
[1]The company is incorporated as a public listed company.
- 1918
Canning operations begin
[1]The business begins commercial canning of pears, peaches and nectarines under the SPC brand.
- 1917
Cooperative founded
[1]Goulburn Valley fruit growers establish the Shepparton Fruit Preserving Co. Ltd., the predecessor of SPC.
Products and positioning
An Australian-grown and Australian-manufactured food business associated with canned fruit, regional agriculture, supply-chain resilience and the industrial heritage of the Goulburn Valley.
Canned fruit and packaged foods · 1918
SPC
The core SPC range originated with canned pears, peaches and nectarines and developed into a broader portfolio of canned fruit, vegetables and other packaged foods. The brand is strongly associated with Australian fruit processing and the Shepparton manufacturing region.
Canned fruit
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley is a fruit-focused brand connected with the agricultural region where SPC was founded. Its products include packaged and canned fruit and form part of SPC Global's continuing branded food portfolio.
Fruit processing and packaged foods · 1921
Ardmona
Ardmona was an independent Victorian fruit-processing business founded in the early twentieth century. After the 2002 merger with SPC, the Ardmona name remained an important part of the combined company's fruit and packaged-food portfolio.
Healthy beverages · 2021
Helping Humans
Helping Humans represents SPC Global's move beyond traditional canned fruit into health-oriented beverage products. It was acquired or introduced during the post-2019 diversification program.
Ready-to-eat meals · 2021
The Good Meal Co.
The Good Meal Co. is part of the prepared-food expansion associated with SPC Global. It broadens the group's offer from preserved fruit into convenient ready-to-eat meals.
Prepared meals · 2021
Kuisine Co.
Kuisine Co. was associated with SPC's entry into ready-to-eat and prepared meal manufacturing during its post-2019 turnaround and category-diversification period.
Brand decisions
2024
Formation of the enlarged SPC Global groupM&ABackground
SPC Global sought to combine its fruit-processing business with complementary Australian beverage and dairy operations.
Action taken
SPC merged with The Original Juice Company and Nature One Dairy and returned to the ASX through a backdoor listing under SPG.
Aftermath
The transaction created a broader listed food and beverage group with SPC as a major operating business.
2021
Expansion into beverages and ready-to-eat mealsStrategyBackground
The post-acquisition business sought to reduce reliance on traditional canned fruit and build a broader food platform.
Action taken
SPC introduced or acquired interests in healthy beverages and ready-to-eat meal businesses, including Helping Humans, Kuisine Co. and The Good Meal Co.
Aftermath
The product mix expanded into additional food and beverage categories while SPC retained its established fruit brands.
2021
COVID-19 vaccination mandateOtherBackground
The company adopted a workplace health and safety response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action taken
SPC required employees, contractors and visitors at its sites to be vaccinated.
Aftermath
The policy made SPC one of the first Australian companies to impose a broad vaccination requirement for onsite personnel.
2019
Sale to Shepparton Partners CollectiveM&ABackground
Coca-Cola Amatil had owned SPC since 2005, but the business experienced financial and operational difficulties.
Action taken
Coca-Cola Amatil sold SPC to a consortium led by Hussein Rifai for A$40 million upfront, with a possible performance-linked deferred payment.
Aftermath
The new owners pursued a turnaround, sold selected legacy assets and expanded into beverages and prepared meals.
Reported upfront purchase price. A$40 million (2019)
2014
Government-backed cannery modernisationStrategyBackground
SPC Ardmona faced substantial losses, declining orders and aging production infrastructure.
Action taken
The company sought federal and Victorian assistance for an upgrade of the Shepparton cannery. The federal request was rejected, while the Victorian Government announced A$22 million in support.
Aftermath
The support formed part of efforts to retain regional manufacturing capacity and improve the competitiveness of the Shepparton operation.
Victorian Government co-investment. A$22 million (2014)
Recent events
- 2025
SPC Global reports first-half net loss after relisting[1]
Other
The enlarged listed group reported a net loss after tax of A$23.9 million on revenue of A$197.9 million in its first half-year results after relisting; the SPC business generated A$139 million during the period.
- 2024
SPC Global combines with Original Juice Company and Nature One Dairy[1]
M&A · Leadership change
SPC Global merged with two Australian food and beverage businesses and subsequently returned to the ASX through a backdoor listing under ticker SPG.
- 2021
SPC mandates COVID-19 vaccination for onsite personnel[1]
Regulation · Other
SPC Global required employees, contractors and visitors attending its sites to be vaccinated against COVID-19, making it one of the first Australian companies to introduce such a broad workplace mandate.
- 2019
Coca-Cola Amatil sells SPC business to Shepparton Partners Collective[1]
M&A
The SPC business was sold to an investor consortium led by Hussein Rifai after years of financial pressure and operational restructuring.
Sources1 sources
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