1946
After successfully managing retail butchers in metropolitan Melbourne, Robert Radford Snr established “Radfords” butchers in the Warragul retail precinct and acquired a one-man slaughter house on 5 hectares
1956
Robert (Rob) Radford Jnr born to follow in his fathers footsteps, entering his apprenticeship at 17, becoming a fully qualified butcher in 1978
1975
Radfords expand; buying the first of what will become a fleet of delivery trucks servicing Gippsland, Metropolitan Melbourne and interstate markets. Employees number 12; annual throughput is 1500 cattle and 15,000 lambs.
1978
$208,000 invested in extending and upgrading the abattoir. Employees number 20; annual throughput is 4,500 cattle and 32,000 lambs; turnover approaches $1 million
1990
Robert Radford Jnr appointed General Manager
1991
$516,000 invested in new Lamb Processing facilities. Employees number 31; annual throughput is 26,000 cattle and 45,000 lambs.
1993
With over 50 years of driving the business, Robert Radford Snr is in for his “last chop” and retires. Robert Jnr appointed Managing Director
1998
$170,000 invested in undercover lairage cattle pens housing up to 400 head. Employees number 48; annual throughput is 30,000 cattle and 56,000 lambs.
2000
$1.2 million invested in new Beef processing floor and refrigerated cold rooms. Employees number 60; annual throughput is 52,000 cattle and 72,000 lambs; turnover is $9.8 million
2005
$3.1 million invested in state-of-the-art Boning Room facilities for commissioning end of 2006
2006
$500,000 invested in upgraded Effluent Treatment, waste water and solid waste recovery and utilization facilities.
Employee numbers approach 100; annual throughput is 65,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep and lambs.
2007
Boning Room fully integrated with existing Abattoir, Chillers and Load-Out commissioned.
At budgeted ‘full production’, employee numbers will exceed 125; with Boning contributing annual revenue of $2.5 million.
