Vesco Foods
Frozen food manufacturing
Founded in 1974. In 2022 Hong Kong private equity firm PAG acquired both Vesco Foods and Patties Foods and merged them together.

Overall

Owned HKG
Rating C
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Vesco Foods Pty Ltd
AUS
Patties Food Group Pty Ltd
owns 100% of Vesco Foods Pty Ltd
AUS
Pastry manufacturing
Founded in Lakes Entrance (VIC) in 1966. Products manufactured at their facility in Bairnsdale, VIC. Acquired by Hong Kong private equity firm PAG in 2022.
PAG
owns 100% of Patties Food Group Pty Ltd
HKG
Investment firm
Founded as Pacific Alliance Group in 2002. Investment partner operating in Asia with US$50 billion of assets under management. Australian investments include Craveable Brands (Red Rooster and Oporto), Patties Foods, Vesco Foods, Cordina Farms, Australian Venue Co and Rex.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Jun 2024)
Vesco Foods Pty Ltd
Information
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.
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Human Rights Law Centre's 2021 report, "Paper Promises? Evaluating the early impact of Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 102 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 37% and the highest score was 83%.
Patties Food Group Pty Ltd
Praise
4/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2024 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 (2024)
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Good" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA (2023)
Information
Breaching advertising codes
This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2016 Ad Standards upheld complaints about an ad by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ad was subsequently discontinued or modified.
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: AANA (2023)
RSPCA Approved products
Patties Foods use chicken from Australian RSPCA Approved farms for their range of Herbest Adams gourmet chicken pies. These farms raise their birds in an enriched barn environment. Chickens enjoy space to move, good lighting and can perch, dustbathe and forage.
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.
Ethical sourcing claims
This company has a publicly available Ethical Sourcing Policy on its website, with a focus on the areas of sustainable palm oil and packaging.
Frozen berries hepatitis A scare
In February 2015 twelve people contracted hepatitis A due to the consumption of "Nanna's frozen berries" sourced from China and sold by this company. A number of frozen berry products were recalled, and Patties has since exited the frozen berries sector.
PAG
Criticism
Part owned by Blackstone, which has criticisms
This company is part owned and backed by Blackstone, which has an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Information
UN Principles for Responsible Investment signatory
UNPRI is a set of six principles direct institutional investors may adopt to consider environmental, social and corporate governance issues when investing. UNPRI is a voluntary agreement.
ESG claims
This company has environment, social and governance claims on its website under the headings investment principles, approach and transparency & reporting.
> About the Icons

Company Details

Type:
Private company
Founded:
1974
Revenue:
196 million AUD (2020)
Employees:
630 (2021)

Contact Details

Address:
14 Neil St, Osbourne Park, WA, 6017, Australia
Phone:
08 9273 6100
Freecall:
1800 099 033
Website:
www.vescofoods.com.au

Products / Brands