Mr. Theo G. Kailis

PERTH, Jan 6 Asia Pulse - Australia's largest maker of independent frozen prepared meals, Kailis & France Foods, has been bought by senior management and a private equity consortium of CHAMP Ventures and Foundation Capital.

Perth-based Kailis & France Foods makes frozen prepared meals and coated fish products for many of Australia's major food industry brands, for the food service industry and for international airlines.

Retiring chairman Theo Kailis said the sale to senior management, CHAMP Ventures and Foundation Capital would ensure the continuity of the business and ensure continued financial capacity for growth.

The sale is part of the restructuring of Kailis & France Holdings to allow further expansion of fishing interests.

Theo Kailis

Theo Kailis has been in the fishing and food business for more than 50 years and for most of this period has held the position of CEO or Chairman for the following companies: G P Kailis & Sons, Ross Group International, West Ocean Canning Pty Ltd, Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd, Newfishing Australia Pty Ltd, Lobster Australia Pty Ltd and Kailis and France Foods Pty Ltd.

Theo succeeded his father, who established G P Kailis & Sons in 1935 as a family-owned fish business, which was sold in 1960 to an international public company . Theo Kailis continued as Managing Director until he resigned in 1970 to establish the Kailis and France Holdings (a partnership with his son George and Murray France).Theo continues as the Executive Chairman.

The Kailis and France Group is a diversified business consisting of seafood manufacturing, (fish, lobster, prawns) and fishing vessel owners and operators within Australia and overseas with export markets in Asia, USA and Europe.The group has been involved in foreign joint ventures in many countries in the past.

Theo has a lifetime of experience in the food and fishing industries in Australia and many overseas countries and is highly respected for his skills in government and industry liaison, product and market development, resource management, finance and administration and delivering outcomes and satisfactory bottom lines.

THEO G KAILIS

Theo G Kailis, Executive Chairman of the Kailis and France Group and a leader in the professional fishing industry for more than 60 years was presented with the Michael Kailis Award, the most prestigious prize in the WA Fishing Industry Council Awards at a ceremony at Hyatt Regency Hotel on Friday September 24th.

The Awards were presented by the WA Fishing Industry Council, and major sponsor the Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative, to acknowledge outstanding achievements in the WA professional fishing industry in thirteen categories.Mr Kailis also won the Major Industry Contributor category, sponsored by Kailis Bros.

Theo G Kailis's 60-year-career in the fishing industry has best been summarised as "years and years of innovation"

Throughout these years Theo has experienced the many major changes in the industry that has taken it from a humble group of fishermen plying their trade to local markets to a billion dollar export industry selling its product in the world market place and recognised as a world leader.

He has been a dominant player in the industry's evolution through his untiring service on State and Federal advisory committees and industry bodies.

The Kailis and France Group led by Theo, in partnership with Murray France, is one of Australia's most diversified and valuable seafood businesses with interests in every aspect from fishing to processing, to local and export marketing and to innovative value adding for fresh fish, lobster and prawns.
...
Amidst a myriad of achievements highlights include the commissioning of the first Randall lobster boat that revolutionised deep sea lobster fishing in ‘60's, the many innovations introduced to facilitate the valuable live lobster export trade, Theo was a key player in the development of Northern Prawn Fishery and along with Murray France was the pioneer of the new Patagonian Toothfish fishery.
...
Over the years Theo has helped hundreds of fisherman get their start in the industry, and the company, under his tutelage, has been an incubator of many industry leaders.

Chairman of the WA Fishing Industry Council Max Ball said, "There is no doubt that Theo Kailis's influence on the industry is enduring.
...
THEO G KAILIS

Theo also won the Michael Kailis Award, the most prestigeous Award of the presentations. (See lead story).
...
Finalists: "Kailis Fish Market Café", Fremantle; "Fish Shack", Scarbrough.