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Simplot Australia

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Praises, some criticism

Food manufacturing

One of Australia's largest food processors. Simplot Australia was founded in 1995 when the J R Simplot Company acquired some of Australia's favourite food brand businesses including Edgell, Chiko, Birds Eye, Harvest and Leggo's. Acquired Chicken Tonight, Raguletto and Five Brothers from Symington's Australia in 2016.

Company Ownership

Simplot Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd   AUS     website   email      
  J R Simplot Company   
   owns 100% of Simplot Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd  
USA     website   email   facebook   

Global food and agribusiness conglomerate

Simplot produces more than 1.5 million pounds of french fries annually, making it one of the world's largest processors of frozen potatoes. Customers include McDonalds, Burger King and Wendys.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Simplot Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd
Animals Green rating in Canned Tuna Guide
Second highest rating in Greenpeace's Canned Tuna Guide. "John West ranked 2nd this year. It has made big improvements since we started the Guide and is now one of the better choices for responsibly fished tuna. John West is continuing to improve its sustainability practices and has met its commitment to source only FAD-free tuna. John West has a good traceability and sourcing policy and all of its tuna is MSC certified. John West is also engaged in a sustainability project in the Pacific that aims to improve environmental and social outcomes for coastal communities. A positive example of what can be achieved when a company takes sustainability seriously."
Source: Canned Tuna Guide (2017)
Environment 4/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2022 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2022)
Business Ethics Misleading labelling
in 2020 Simplot agreed to change its country of origin labelling on 31 frozen fish products from 'Made in Australia' to 'Packed in Australia', following concerns raised by the ACCC. Following compliance checks across a range of frozen foods, the ACCC was concerned that the products displayed a 'Made in Australia' mark when the imported frozen fish may not have been substantially transformed in Australia.
Source: ACCC (2020)
Business Ethics Political donations
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $70,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)
Environment Organic products
This company manufactures or distributes products that are certified organic under the Australian Certified Organic label.
Source: ACO (2022)
Environment MSC certified products
This company sells products which are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Source: MSC (2022)
Environment Palm oil free products
Some, but not necessarily all, of this company's frozen food products are palm oil free. For more details, follow the link to see Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia's list of products which manufacturers have told them are palm oil free or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil.
Source: BOS Australia (2020)
Social RCMI signatory
This company is a signatory to the Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative (RCMI), which is managed by the Australian Food & Grocery Council and covers products found in retail outlets. Companies that have signed up to the initiative commit to: only advertising healthier choices to children and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through good diet and physical activity; not paying for or seeking product placement television programs, editorial content or interactive games aimed at children, unless the product is a healthier choice; not advertising and marketing to children in Australian schools unless they are asked to by those schools.
Source: AFGC (2019)
Animals Dolphin safe
This company is listed by the Earth Island Institute as an approved dolphin-safe tuna processing company. This company has pledged to abide by the Earth Island international 'Dolphin Safe' tuna standards of no encirclement of dolphins or other marine mammals during an entire fishing trip, no accidental deaths or serious injuries of any dolphins, and no use of drift gill nets.
Source: Earth Island Institute (2020)
Animals Good Egg Award 2014
The RSPCA Good Egg Awards acknowledge major companies that make the switch to cage-free eggs. This company was awarded a Good Egg Award in 2014 for their commitment to sourcing only cage-free eggs when used as direct ingredients for iconic brands such as Leggo's and Lean Cuisine.
Source: RSPCA Australia (2014)
Animals Cage-free eggs commitment
This company is listed on the RSPCA Australia website as 'cage-free and proud', signifying a commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs. Essentially cage-free means barn laid, which is better than cage eggs, but still much worse than free-range or organic eggs when it comes to animal welfare.
Source: RSPCA Australia (2020)
Business Ethics Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website including the areas of respect for resources, reducing operational impact and community involvement. For link for more info including Sustainability Report from 2012 and 2014.
Source: company website (2016)
Business Ethics Sustainable Seafood partnership with WWF
In Feb 2012 John West Australia (part of Simplot Australia) announced a new Sustainable Seafood partnership with WWF Australia. The partnership commits John West Australia to WWF's Global Sustainable Seafood Charter and features key milestones for John West to meet. In 2016 John West launched MSC-certified sustainable skipjack tuna, and they are continuing to migrate other branded products to MSC and ASC certified sustainable sources.
Source: WWF-Australia (2016)
Business Ethics Sedex member
This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
Source: Sedex (2018)
Social Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Human Rights Law Centre's 2022 report, "Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 92 companies sourcing from four sectors with known risks of modern slavery: garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia, seafood from Thailand and fresh produce from Australia. Modern slavery statements are analysed to see if they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements, identify or disclose obvious modern slavery risks, and demonstrate effective actions to address risks. This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a rating in the 31-40% range. The average score was 44% and the highest score was 89%.
Source: Human Rights Law Centre (2022)
J R Simplot Company
Business Ethics 8% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #256/350, with a total score of 8/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
Environment Water pollution in USA
Named in Conde Nast Portfolio's 'The Toxic Ten': In 2007, USA's EPA determined that a Simplot factory was the main source of a potentially deadly amount of phosphorus dumped into the Portneuf River.
Source: Environmental Leader (2008)
Environment Water pollution in China
In 2015 this company was fined a record US$632,370 by Chinese authorities for water pollution. A local Beijing regulator found that Simplot's China processing unit had been discharging contaminated wastewater that exceeded acceptable levels. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: news article (2015)
Business Ethics Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website.
Source: company website (2015)
Business Ethics OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue 1.5 billion AUD (2019)
Employees 2,220 (2019)
Aus Manufacturing Yes

Contact Details

Address Chifley Business Park, 2 Chifley Drive, Mentone, VIC, 3194, Australia
Phone 03 9588 3000
Freecall 1800 061 279
Website www.simplot.com.au

Products / Brands

Simplot Australia
Ally Canned Fish
Bird's Eye some products MSC certified some products MSC certified  Frozen Fish
Bird's Eye Frozen Vegies/Chips
Birds Eye Frozen Meals/Pizza
Chicken Tonight Cooking Sauce
Chiko Finger Food
Colonial Farm Finger Food
Edgell Canned Vegies/Beans
Edgell Pasta Sauce
Edgell Packet Meals
Five Brothers Pasta Sauce
Five Tastes Asian
Harvest Canned Meat/Meals
I & J Finger Food
I & J Frozen Fish
John West some products certified MSC some products certified MSC  Canned Fish
John West Savoury Spread
John West Canned Fish (Tuna)
John West Frozen Fish
Leggo's Packet Meals
Leggo's some products certified organic some products certified organic  Pasta Sauce
Leggo's Pickles, Chutney & Relish
Leggo's Fresh Pasta
Neptune Frozen Fish
Providore Pasta Sauce
Raguletto Fresh Pasta
Raguletto Pasta Sauce
Seakist Canned Fish (Tuna)


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