Mr. Steve Perkins

SPC Ardmona acting manager Steve Perkins said a canning conference earlier this year had identified a world glut of fruit that was forcing down prices and affecting Australian domestic prices.

In some countries the prices have been dropping by 30 to 40 per cent.

However, he expected the peach prices for growers to be no lower than last season.

Mr Perkins said the company expected to take all of growers' apricots and plums and would take about the same amount of pears as last year.
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Mr Perkins said the company intended to announce prices to growers before significant intakes had begun.
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Mr Perkins told Country News it had informal meetings with growers but he said there was no formal consultative committee.

SPC Ardmona's chief financial officer Steve Perkins will become acting managing director.

Because we're the first Australian company to use this technology, we had to find a finance company that not only understood the product in the context of our business, but could also give us flexibility in the loan to optimise cash flow," said Steve Perkins, Chief Financial Officer, SPC Ardmona.

"GE is an international company and leases similar equipment to fruit processors around the world.GE was able to put together a lease on this type of equipment because, with its manufacturing division and its expert asset group, GE Commercial Finance has the tools to assess the equipment's true value and wear the residual risk.This is their unique advantage and competitive edge," he added.
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Steve Perkins said that the new equipment will help the company retain and gain new private label contracts, and continues the investment Coca-Cola Amatil is making in quality consumer products since purchasing SPC Ardmona in 2005.

"Although we have signed an operating lease, the focus was not so much on CapEx and balance sheets but rather on better cash management given the seasonal nature of the produce and the inventories we keep as a result.We're also experimenting with putting other fruits through the system, which could mean the release of new product lines in the near future," he concluded.

Steve PerkinsChief Financial Officer

Director - Commercial