In March, Tatura Fresh owner the Murphy family and glasshouse powerhouse Flavorite announced they intended to merge.
Far from causing downsizing, the amicable merger has brought forward upscaling plans.
Flavorite chief executive Mike Nichol said construction was already under way on 60,000 sqm of new indoor hydroponic space at the Tatura site.
“That will be in production and producing crop by Christmas,” Mr Nichol said.
“Then straight afterwards we'll get started on another 60,000 sqms.”
In addition to the extra 12 ha of glasshouse, a state-of-the-art packing shed is being planned at Tatura.
The shed will pack produce from both Tatura and Mansfield in addition to Flavorite's Katunga glasshouse.
“The new shed will be a perfect fit for the region and for us, especially as we expand the Katunga site further,” Mr Nichol said.
“One of the benefits to glasshouses in the north is better sunlight for winter production, which is what Tatura and Katunga offer us.”
The merger between the two businesses came about due to their close ties.
Both are Victorian family businesses which went into hydroponics in the 1990s and have worked closely ever since, with the Murphy family selling most of its product to Flavorite.
“One of the most attractive things about the merger was the Murphys,” Mr Nichol said.
“They are a good family and Jon Murphy in particular is a good operator, good grower and has a good management team.”
Flavorite has been on an expansion spree since 2020, consolidating and growing in an attempt to offer big clients like Coles guaranteed access to more out-of-season vegies.
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