A Highlands and Tablelands beef producer has recently been named Woolworths Protein Supplier of the Year.
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Princess Pastoral Company in Berrima was named as the Woolworth's Protein Supplier of Year award for 2019.
The family owned business is run by Peter and Cate Brooks, who have properties in Berrima, Goulburn and Oberon.
Princess Pastoral Company took the gong for their commitment and ability to deliver a new grass fed product despite hard circumstances.
The award looked at suppliers who have gone above and beyond to support Woolworths to deliver high quality food and everyday needs to its customers.
Princess Pastoral Company's has become the majority supplier of grass fed beef for Woolworths' Certified Grass Fed Beef Program and has provided in excess of 6000 head across their three properties in Berrima, Goulburn and Oberon.
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Owner Peter Brooks said he was proud of his business' achievement.
"We're very excited for everyone who has been a part of the process like our livestock carriers, our employees and anyone that is involved in the whole process," he said.
"We supply Woolworths with most cuts. They're grass fed, antibiotic free, hormone free and the bulk of the production comes from the area."
Faced with drought, bushfires and floods, Princess Pastoral Company was able to overcome several challenges.
"It's been a really challenging last three years, we've had to use specially produced grass fed pellets," he said.
"During the drought we had to supplementary feed our cattle with those pellets and we are doing it now to ensure supply - which is 280 a week.
"The challenges change. Previously we were decimated by the drought, now we are going through a period of extremely high prices.
"We're working together with Woolworths to make sure we're sustainable during the high prices. Prices have doubled in the past 12 months and that's been quite a challenge.
"The biggest challenge we have though is delivering a consistent product every week and to do that we need to have up to 9000 cattle in the program."
Mr Brooks said the most pleasing thing to him was the support of the people who have helped the business along the way.
"Our live stock carriers, our stock agents, vets, employees and all the people involved in the chain," he said.
"They say it takes a village to raise a baby, well it also takes a village to make a steak."
Woolworths head of meat and seafood Tim Dudding said Princess Pastoral Company is a great example of Australian businesses rising to the occasion despite unprecedented circumstances.
"It's a pleasure working with Princess Pastoral Co and we're delighted to award them the Protein Supplier of the Year," he said.
"More and more of our customers want grass fed beef and we're pleased to have partnered with Peter and Cate Brooks to make it more accessible."
Woolworths Director of Buying Paul Harker said it had been an unprecedented year for the communities they served across Australia.
"The strong collaborative partnerships we have with our suppliers allowed us to work together quickly and effectively during the pandemic to ensure our customers could access the everyday essentials they needed," he said.
"Thank you, to our thousands of suppliers who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in putting customers first, rapidly increasing production, pivoting to the projects that mattered most and thinking creatively to solve complex logistical challenges."
Woolworths hosts an annual Supplier of the Year and has more than 5000 suppliers nationally.
The Woolworths Supplier of the Year Awards recognised suppliers to the supermarket across a range of categories:
- Overall Supplier of the Year: Sanitarium
- Sustainability Supplier of the Year: Rivalea Australia
- New Product Launch of the Year: Bonds Bloody Comfy Undies - Hanes
- Supply Partner of the Year: Henkel
- FoodCo Supplier of the Year: Ontex Manufacturing
- Protein Supplier of the Year: Princess Pastoral Co
- Fruit & Veg Supplier of the Year: Gibb Brothers
- Chilled, Bakery & Deli Supplier of the Year: D'Orsogna (Deli)
- Longlife Grocery Supplier of the Year (Large):Sanitarium
- Longlife Grocery Supplier of the Year (Small - Medium): Freudenberg
- Account Manager of the Year: Julia Clarke - Chobani
- ISP of the Year: Cameron dela Cruz - ABC
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