Fine Foods Holdings ranked Top Supplier in the Australian Grocery Deli Category

This year has begun well for Fine Foods Holdings (FFH) in the knowledge that the Melbourne-based manufacturer of OB finest premium crackers is at the top of its game.

As winner of Top Ranked Supplier 2018 in the Australian Grocery Deli Category, FFH sets the performance benchmark among suppliers, as recognised by the executive and buying teams across the retail sector at Woolworths, Coles, Metcash and Convenience groups.

The 360-degree survey, managed by Advantage Australia, required retail decision-makers to measure suppliers against such KPIs as business alignment, communications, innovation, responsiveness, strategy, growth and service.

Both rankings and comments on performance were taken into consideration with competitors for this prestigious Award including many significant and well-regarded Deli brands. Fine Foods Holdings and OB finest have much to celebrate.

The premium OB finest range has certainly become a hero at FFH and an Australian favourite. OB finest speciality cracker varieties offer distinctive innovation in their delicious flavour profiles that include Cranberry & Pumpkin Seed, Fig & Almond and Apricot & Macadamia.

Perfect with favourite cheeses or even dips, OB finest also offers the convenience of Quince, Pear or Fig Paste in its range, adding yet other taste sensation to the entertainment platter.

Upon receiving the Award, CEO Todd Wilson said: “As an Australian food manufacturer, Fine Foods Holdings is very proud of this achievement. There is nothing more powerful and valued than the recognition that comes directly from our customers and acknowledges our dedication to building our brands and the consistency and breadth of our retail relationships.

“We are particular delighted that this recognition comes just four years after the establishment of our manufacturing division. My thanks go to all at FFH who have worked so hard to create our success,” Todd continued.

Demand for OB finest products continues to shape the ambitions of FFH. Exceptional sales growth, both in Australia and overseas, has resulted in the need to invest in a substantially larger manufacturing facility. The move to a bespoke greenfield site will occur in May 2019.

Such expansion has been made strategically possible with the formation of the Gourmet Foods Group (GFG) in July 2018. The Group is the merger of FHH and MaxFoods (packaged seafood and sugar-free biscuits), with their commonality of shareholders, and incorporates investment from leading Australian private equity firm, CHAMP Private Equity.

CHAMP Private Equity brings additional expertise to support the growing ambitions of the Gourmet Goods Group. However, quality excellence and innovation, the common core focus that made both food entities individually successful in domestic and offshore markets, remain paramount.

As Todd Wilson explains: “This core focus is very much part of our culture at the Gourmet Foods Group and is strengthened by the entrepreneurial way we work to meet our business objectives.

“In CHAMP, we have a strategic partnership aligned to our culture and capabilities. Together, we are excited about our future as it enables us to invest further in our people, brands, product development and manufacturing infrastructure,” Todd Wilson said.

With the new greenfield plant for FFH on the horizon, together with other product innovations, there is much more to Fine Foods Holdings than just one or two winning cracker formulas!