Video: Gourmet Garden sold for $150 million to US based company One of Queensland's fastest growing high-tech agribusiness companies has been sold to a US buyer for $150 million ($US114 million).McCormick & Company acquired 100 per cent of the privately owned Botanical Food Company, that manufactures and sells the Gourmet Garden brand of packaged herbs in a tube. Gourmet Garden CEO - Nicholas White Absolutely, categorically, it will remain in Australia. The Sunshine Coast-based company was launched in 1998 and employs 150 people at its processing headquarters at Palmwoods, sourcing herbs from Central Queensland and Victorian farmers.Gourmet Garden CEO, Nicholas White said the Australian-based company had grown from being a small market leader in chilled, convenient herbs and spices to a very successful international leader."We're exporting to 15 different countries and export's probably 60 per cent of our current sales," Mr White said. Gourmet Garden CEO - Nicholas White, talks about the sale

"It's going to be a tremendous fit for us, McCormick, in terms of the space that we compete in — herbs, spices and seasonings, they're the global market leader."al's handyman service los angelesWe are 90 per cent a retail business, McCormick is going to enable us to strengthen our export sales to the US in food service, industrial, and also mostly to the European market." j&d handyman servicesMr White said there were no plans to send jobs or manufacturing offshore."handyman services west hollywoodAbsolutely, categorically it will remain in Australia. handyman services fort st john

It's a critical component of our business model. "Key parts of our IT are surrounding the growing and harvesting practices and we've got a dedicated built facility here on the Sunshine Coast to service the export market," he said.handyman service san antonio Part of Gourmet Garden's production line.business for sale scarborough north yorkshire The Eva Fresh technology it uses to extend the shelf life of fresh herbs, without heat treatment, was developed by Australian scientists in the late 1980s. Gourmet Garden's headquarters on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. In the early 1990s Jane Parker a herb and spice industry expert was contracted to Queensland's Department of Primary Industries to research and trial new crops for Biloela farmers in Central Queensland.Seven of the nine growers that supply Gourmet Garden still come from that region.

The company was owned by Australian agribusiness leader, Doug Shears, who previously built up Uncle Toby's and Berri Juice, before selling them on to strategic owners.Mr White said the $150 million sale did not encounter hurdles from the Foreign Investment Review Board."I think we've known for a long time that we'll be seeking a strategic partner."From a management point of view if we could have picked a partner it would be the global leader in herbs, spices and seasonings," he said. Rural news in your inbox? Subscribe for the national headlines of the day. He said McCormick was basically purchasing a chilled capability."It's a whole new operation for them. We are largely going to be a stand alone operation for them.He said the Australian business had about a 15 per cent household penetration in Australia, but less than 3 per cent in North America."If we can replicate what we've done in Australia in North America with McCormick, it's at least a fivefold increase right there."

Gourmet Garden production line In a statement, Lawrence E. Kurzius, McCormick & Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said his company's business plan was to drive sales of the Gourmet Garden brand by expanding global distribution and building awareness with increased brand investment."The Gourmet Garden brand offers a more convenient alternative to consumers who currently buy fresh herbs."He said the owners and employees of Gourmet Garden had built a great business."We we look forward to working with them to achieve continued success," he said. Gourmet Garden factory interior Sunshine Coast Regional Mayor, Mark Jamieson said he had been reassured that it would be business as usual at Gourmet Garden."I guess that (foreign ownership) always causes some concern in the minds of some people but I think this might be the appropriate time in the development of the Gourmet Garden brand and the product range, that having the support and investment power of a major US conglomerate would be to their advantage potentially," he said."

Certainly Gourmet Garden is a great example of innovation in agribusiness that's been incredibly successful and while people don't always remember the brand they always get it when you tell them it's the herbs in the tube that they'll find in their refrigerator," Councillor Jamieson said."It's my hope that McCormick wouldn't have made such a big investment if they didn't think it was possible to continue to grow the opportunity for Gourmet Garden."It's a very important part of the Sunshine Coast and needs to be in the future," Cr Jamieson said. Tubes of herbs on the production line. Nice view from the top but when we visited waterfall dried up probably due to lack of rain. Very peaceful place but very limited parking. Quite a small waterfall but a great lookout looking down the falls into the remanent of ancient rainforest Nice picnic area & walk trails Unfortunately the waterfalls were not flowing when my partner and I visited. And we were disappointed that none of the walking tracks take you down to the bottom of the falls.

Otherwise the park makes for a nice bush walk A short walk to a lookout and a choice of a short walk or a longer one. Quite relaxing to visit, and worth including if you have the time. Easy to find location and even has a viewing platform and walks as well. Parking was great as well. Only let down the falls were no real water flowing. Maybe due to dry season. Best time to view the falls .will be after rain or wet season. Beautiful walk thru subtropical rainforest. Not much water in waterfall. Short circuit nature walk and views of Obi Valley bountiful majestic rainforest walk, could be somewhere you could think of getting married, lots of tracks to bush walk lots of wildlife Amazing view of the falls at the entry to the park. The short loop is a gentle amble that would suit just about anyone (good for kids too), lots to see including a second look-out point. There is a longer trail as part of the "Great Walk" for people with more energy to burn. Located a few minutes drive outside Mapleton these falls are a quick way to fit in a nice walk.