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The Angus Table

The Angus Table

By: Scott Wright CEO Angus Australia
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Summary

  Welcome to the new look Angus Australia podcast. This season we'll be bringing you conversations designed to add real value to your business. As members of Angus Australia, you'll hear from the people across the breed and the wider beef industry sharing insights, stories, and ideas that really matter.Copyright © 2025, Angus Australia, All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • Episode 26 | Family Business, Global Expansion and Supply Chain Ownership, with Darren Thomas, Thomas Foods International

    Episode 26 | Family Business, Global Expansion and Supply Chain Ownership, with Darren Thomas, Thomas Foods International
    May 4 2026
    In this episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Darren Thomas, Group Managing Director of Thomas Foods International.Darren shares insights from humble 1985 livestock trading beginnings with father Chris to now three-generation family involvement including his children Jack, Ned and Chloe. Scott and Darren explore the 1990s early Angus connection, the brand evolution of Angus Pure, his supply chain ownership strategy, and the ongoing innovation and expansion at home and abroad.They discuss livestock as core competency, processing as core business, the Angus breed delivering what it promises, opportunities for young people in agriculture, and family business tenure creating competitive advantage with global customers.So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights on building Australia's second largest red meat processor while remaining proudly family-ownedKey topics covered:Thomas Foods International growth from 1985 livestock trading/service kill beginnings to Australia's second largest red meat processor and largest sheep/lamb processor exporting to 80-85 countries with five Australian plantsThe journey to being a three-generation family business, the value of being a generational supplier with strong customer relationships, and remaining proudly family owned when the other top processors are all foreign-ownedThe supply chain ownership strategy of owning everything between farmer and end user retailer for efficiency, which allows higher farmer payments and customer value, as well as better control and decision making Thomas Foods’ early Angus connection in the 1990s and how Darren created marketing options for South East producersThe brand evolution of Angus Pure from Certified Black partnership to developing their own 100% Angus positioning, achieving US market success, and launching Mount Shank premium brandWhy the Angus breed succeeded by backing up great marketing with actual product performance through society research and seed stock suppliers/farmers collaborating for genetic improvementWhy attention to detail and simplicity matter as Thomas Foods' philosophy from home to operations, with people as the foundation and educating for better outcomes.How Thomas Foods is expanding globally with second US and European plant building, Middle East and India operations developing, as well as a $380M Australian capital expenditure to modernise facilitiesThe challenge of over-regulation and export certification costs pushed onto processors, with regulation supporting brand quality but increasing costs and thereby reducing competitivenessWhy Thomas Foods takes a cautious approach to MLA multibreed evaluation by using Angus as best practice case study without reinventing the wheelWhy young people have wonderful opportunities in agriculture beyond primary production including AgTech/robotics/data science/AI/pharmaceuticals, with industry unity making it easier than when Darren startedRelevant links mentioned in the episode:Thomas Foods International https://thomasfoods.com/Contact details:This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn + +Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + CREDITS:Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email ceo@angusaustralia.com.auProducer: Mel Strasburg mel.strasburg@angusaustralia.com.auAudio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au
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    50 mins
  • Episode 25 | Building Rural Businesses: From Wilshire and Co to Agricon with Todd Wilshire

    Episode 25 | Building Rural Businesses: From Wilshire and Co to Agricon with Todd Wilshire
    Apr 27 2026

    In this episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Todd Wilshire, managing director of Agricon and former owner of Wilshire and Co, for a comprehensive conversation about building successful agricultural businesses.

    Todd shares insights from his journey studying agronomy at Gatton, returning after travelling to grow the family's Tenterfield produce store into a six-location group sold to Pursehouse Rural, and the strategic acquisition and subsequent growth of animal nutrition company Agricon.

    Todd and Scott discuss key business lessons about having a vision and staying patient, as well as the importance of diversification, team building, strong supplier relationships, finding market gaps, and why face-to-face relationships still beat online shopping.

    So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights on rural entrepreneurship and creating value in agricultural supply chains.

    Contact details:

    This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

    +Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

    +Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

    CREDITS:

    Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email ceo@angusaustralia.com.au

    Producer: Mel Strasburg mel.strasburg@angusaustralia.com.au

    Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au
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    58 mins
  • Episode 24 | 2026 Board Priorities and Strategic Direction for Angus Australia, with President Sinclair Munro

    Episode 24 | 2026 Board Priorities and Strategic Direction for Angus Australia, with President Sinclair Munro
    Apr 20 2026

    Summary of the episode:

    In this special board outcomes episode of The Angus Table, President Sinclair Munro and CEO Scott Wright discuss key decisions and strategic priorities from Angus Australia's March 2026 board of directors meeting.

    They share insights on board function, CEO board report highlights, and financial audit outcomes including the new late inventory fee policy.

    Also discussed is the board’s strategic focus on genetic evaluation including TACE as hybrid display from three evaluation services (BreedPlan, Angus Genetic, AGI), the shift to weekly analysis capability through Angus Genetic, navigating MLA's multibreed evaluation plans, and promoting Angus as reliable, nutritious, and environmentally sustainable.

    So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights about the governance and strategy shaping Angus Australia's future.


    Key topics covered:

    1. How the Angus Australia board functions: elected by members with committee structure, focusing on strategy/risk/compliance/policy while providing CEO oversight
    2. Highlights from the CEO board report, including HeiferSELECT marketing improvements and Angus Online self-service platform now live
    3. Financial audit outcomes from the external auditor review of 2025 statements
    4. About the late inventory fee policy change beginning in Spring 2026 where late submissions after bill date will receive 50% credit to reward on-time record keepers and remove emotion from staff decisions.
    5. Strategic genetic evaluation focus, including weekly analysis capability through Angus GenetIQ addressing member needs quickly.
    6. Navigating the MLA multibreed evaluation plans while protecting Angus-specific tools
    7. The importance of member consultation and the opportunities to engage this year, such as webinars and the upcoming AGM in May
    8. Valuing member-collected phenotype data as Angus Australia's strength, ensuring we prioritise using to benefit those who collected it
    9. Promoting the Angus brand responsibly and emphasising reliable genetics from registered bulls, nutritious high eating quality, and environmental sustainability
    10. Appreciation for the voluntary role of board members taking on a big workload while taking time from their own farms/businesses
    11. About Sinclair’s best beef eating experience on Easter Sunday

    Contact details:

    This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

    +Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

    +Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +


    CREDITS:

    Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email ceo@angusaustralia.com.au

    Producer: Mel Strasburg mel.strasburg@angusaustralia.com.au

    Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au
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    1 hr and 1 min
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