Radfords of Warragul... Leading Victoria in Meat Processing

“R Radford and Son Pty Ltd will maintain and promote environmental improvement and awareness amongst all staff. Adverse impacts on the environment will be minimised by a combination of continual improvement and monitoring of discharges to the environment so that action can be take should such discharges create adverse impacts. An acceptable level of environmental performance is the minimum objective. Due diligence shall be demonstrated by integrating care for the environment into the responsibilities and work ethics of each and every employee.”

Key Performance Indicators - Environmental Sustainability

Since initiating our Environmental Improvement Plan, Radfords have achieved the following improvements in key performance indicators:

Production growth +10.50%
Certified Organic production growth +65.89%
Electricity consumption per tonne -10.87%
Bottled Gas consumption per tonne -14.64%
Natural Gas consumption per tonne -17.16%
Water consumption per tonne -9.40%
Motor Fuel consumption per tonne -11.23%

Creating A Centre of Excellence

With over $6 million recently invested in a new Plant and Equipment and supporting infrastructure, underlying our support of Industry improvement programs, Radfords are the prime mover for establishing both the business and the region as a “Centre of Excellence” for meat processing in Australia:

Our Technology

Radfords have invested $3.4 million in acquiring state-of-the-art carcass and boned meat processing facilities and systems. Responding to a request from and with the support of the (Vic) Department of Primary Industry, Radfords have invested some $360,000 in developing a “Cut to Carcass” Traceability System. This system, to be rolled-out to the Australian red meat industry, completes the links in the National Livestock Identification System’s “Paddock to Plate” traceability objective. A further $160,000 will be invested in integrating this system with all pre and post-production activities.

Our People

Having the best people in meat processing in Australia delivers our Customers the highest standards of product integrity, quality, consistency and service:

Radfords investment in their processing facilities is echoed and amplified in having the best people working and managing those facilities.

In a completely hands-on environment, MD Robert Radford’s expertise in livestock assessment and qualifications in both wholesale and retail butchering provide both the day-to-day and strategic leadership of the Radford team.

Processing, Quality Assurance, Logistics and Sales are headed by managers with many years experience in their particular fields and supported by an Administration group with an in depth understanding of both the business and the industry.

Striving for personal excellence extends throughout our organization, with skills upgrading and training hallmarks of our commitment to ensuring the Radford team have the resources to remain at the forefront of the industry’s best, with all employees both required and supported to attain at least Certificate 2 status in Food Processing.

Any amount of money and resources spent of developing employees comes too little if job satisfaction and a harmonious working environment are lacking. Notably, Radford employees average seventeen years of continuous service and in 60 years of trading Radfords have not lost a single day to industrial disputes!

Combining our Industry Leadership, Experience, formally acknowledged and accredited Expertise and a harmonious working environment means Radford’s deliver the highest standards of product integrity, quality and consistency and a responsiveness to customer needs that is second to none in the industry. It also enables Radfords to immediately and appropriately respond to intermittent customers queries and to advise customers on emerging issues and how best to leverage the many supply chain opportunities that Radford customers enjoy.

Our commitment to both the practice and principals of quality products and the highest of service standards is clearly evidenced by the numerous industry leadership roles undertaken by MD Robert Radford; including:

Chairman Australian Meat Industry Council – Victorian Processors Council
Vice Chairman Australian Meat Industry Council - Processors Council of Australia
Member State Government Advisory Committee of the National Livestock Identification System
Member National Meat Association of Australia

Our contact us page provides details of the particular areas of expertise and the appropriate Radford people who will best respond to your inquiries.

Supporting Tomorrow's Leaders

Radfords recognize that the future of our business, industry and community lies with coming generations.

We have been at the forefront in developing interactive relationships with regional colleges, providing facilities for the practical demonstration of classroom learning, assistance with animal husbandry training and hands-on assistance and guidance for students when participating in external programs and events.

Supporting the Extended Community

Measured over its’ 60 years of trading, Radfords annual operating expenditures sums to a present value of over $415 million. The flow-on effect of this lifelong commitment to Gippsland has been the generation of some $1.3 billion of economic activity within the region equating to the creation of over 8,300 jobs!

Meat processing contributes $186.5 million (75%) of the region’s $250.1 million total value of agriculture. Radfords are the only large-scale abattoir in the region processing for domestic consumption and their operations are recognized as critical to the Gippsland red meat industry.

Throughout its sixty years, Radfords have recognised and embraced both the importance and benefits of generating reciprocal goodwill across a broad spectrum and supporting the efforts of others to enrich and enhance our community; annually a range of support is provided to some forty schools and colleges, sporting and social clubs, community groups and service organizations.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

“R Radford and Son are committed to operating an economical, viable and environmentally sustainable meat processing business, providing growing opportunities for the business, its employees, its host region and the economy as a whole.
R Radford and Son embrace continued development and will demonstrate a commitment to industry best practice in all its endeavours, working cooperatively with its employees, the industry and all stakeholders to lead an efficient and competitive processed meat sector in regional Victoria.”