Work to the world

Hamish Heard
A Geelong company’s push into international markets is creating thousands of jobs in Africa and China.
Costa Group chief Simon Costa this week announced the company had expanded into South Africa with construction of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest refrigerated fresh produce distribution centre.
Mr Costa told a Geelong Business Network breakfast the company had grown to annual sales of $1.4 billion since beginning operations in Moorabool Street’s Covent Garden fruit and vegetable shop in the 1880s.
He said the business had expanded from 850 employees when he took over the reigns from his uncle, Cats president Frank Costa, in 2004, to more than 9000.
That payroll would rise dramatically at the start of June when the company began operating its South African venture.
Mr Costa said an initial workforce of 1400 would increase to 2000 by next year.
The 100,000squaremetre facility, near Johannesburg, was approximately five times the size of the MCG.
“According to the construction company, it’s the biggest distribution centre of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, so it’s a major development,” Mr Costa said.
The facility would supply South Africa’s largest retail chain, which supplies nearly half of the groceries consumed by the country’s population of 46 million.
Company chairman Frank Costa said five similar largescale distribution centres in other South African provinces would follow soon.
He was delighted with the company’s performance since handing his nephew control.
“It was a huge decision for me to make, the decision on who to take over the reigns,” he said.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way it’s worked out.”
The company has also entered into a joint venture with Cathay Pacific airlines owner Swire Group to distribute fresh produce throughout Victoria and Queensland under the Polar Fresh banner.
The business has also established a foothold on Chinese markets with a majority holding in a distribution company called Costa Zhang, supplying Asian markets with goods from China.