OUR STORY
Since 1948, Red Rich Fruits has been a leading Australian grower, packer, marketer and exporter of superior quality fresh fruit, owned and operated by the Napoleone family.
Our mission is to put the highest quality, fresh fruit on all plates in Australia and key export markets.
Vertically integrated, and with national distribution, Red Rich Fruits comprises of orchards, cool-storage, ripening, and packing facilities in Darwin, Gayndah, and the Yarra Valley; a wholesale outlet at the Sydney Markets; and our state-of-the-art packing and distribution facilities in Eastern Creek (NSW), and Coldstream (VIC).
Our product range includes Apples, Pears, Stonefruit, Citrus, Berries, Cherries and Mangoes; and our proprietary apple variety, Cosmic Crisp®.
Watch our story below.
OUR HISTORY
Hover or click on the images below to see how we’ve grown.
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1948Michael ‘Mick’ Napoleone purchases the family’s first property in the Yarra Valley. Apples are quickly planted, followed by Stonefruit (1955) and Pears (1960). -
1954Red Rich Fruits is incorporated. -
1959Mick marries Grace Mammoliti. Their daughter, Josephina ‘Josie’, is born the following year followed by sons, Joseph ‘Joe’, in 1961 and, Michael (jnr), in 1972. -
1965Controlled atmosphere storage facilities are installed at the Wandin site replacing the cork- clad cool rooms built in 1962. -
1976Red Rich Fruits begins supplying Safeway (now Woolworths). -
1978The first Red Rich Fruits Market Store opens in the Melbourne Wholesale Markets. The presence is expanded to Sydney Wholesale Markets in 2009. -
1987Red Rich Fruits’ Coldstream property is purchased and Punt Road Winery is established on the site in 1999. The award winning Punt Road Wines label is subsequently launched (2001) followed by Napoleone Cider (2008) and Beer (2014). -
1998Red Rich Fruits wins Woolworths ‘Supplier of The Year’ (VIC). -
2002Mick Napoleone passes away. Management of Red Rich Fruits hands to his sons, Joe and Michael (jnr). -
2010Matthew Palise joins Red Rich Fruits as Managing Director, quickly adding Citrus and Berries to Red Rich Fruits’ product range through vertical integration and establishing packing facilities in New South Wales. -
2014Red Rich Fruits establishes Berry Creek Packing Company, Darwin’s leading full-service mango pack house. -
2016Red Rich Fruits purchases mango orchards near Darwin, NT. Red Rich Fruits is a finalist for the Coles ‘Supplier Rising Star’ award. -
2018Red Rich Fruits purchases three new citrus orchards on the banks of the Burnett River near Gayndah, QLD. The properties boast good quality alluvial sandy loam soil and generous water allocations, feeding full irrigation infrastructure. The Mt Lawless property features a newly-upgraded 2000 sqm packing shed. -
2019Joe Napoleone passes away. Management of Red Rich Fruits passes to Joe's brother Michael, in partnership with the next generation including Joseph (jnr), Max, and Jack. 2019 also sees Red Rich Fruits securing the exclusive rights to grow, manage and market WA38 cv. Cosmic Crisp® Apples in Australia. -
2020Red Rich Fruits opens it's new, purpose-built packing and distribution centre in Coldstream, Victoria. The 12,000 square metre facility features state-of-the-art equipment and has the capacity to pack 50,000 bins of fruit each year.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Check out our extended timeline for more information.
OUR TEAM
Red Rich Fruits have a team of dedicated staff committed to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction. Our customer-focused and driven sales approach, combined with our industry and consumer knowledge, experience and expertise, are second to none — allowing us to support our supply partners across the value chain to build their competitive advantage.
