Simplot Australia is poised to make a management buy-out of local meat processor Top Cut Foods.

The agreement encompasses all of Top Cut’s operations, with Rob Aston appointed as the new owner of Australia, Japan and South Korea, while Michael Lin will become the owner of the Chinese operations, according to a statement from Simplot.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The deal is expected to be completed “over the coming months”.

Formed in 1995, Simplot Australia is owned by US agri-food business J.R. Simplot and supplies major brands on a contract basis to Australian supermarket groups and foodservice customers. Meanwhile, Top Cut describes itself as the country’s specialist butcher, founded in 1981 and with a distribution network across Asia. It supplies beef, lamb, pork and veal under brand names such as Tender Plus, Crestwick and Northern Rivers.

Simplot Australia managing director Graham Dugdale said: “Top Cut is a unique and specialised business that is quite different from Simplot Australia’s core capabilities. However, Top Cut’s management has outstanding industry knowledge, capabilities and experience to ensure Top Cut’s future success.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact