Pure Foods Tasmania, which has built up the group through M&A, has promoted Robert Knight to the role of CEO and managing director.
Knight, the company’s “largest” shareholder, has been a director since October 2024. He will take on his new responsibilities on 1 July.
According to a company statement on 25 May, his appointment as CEO provides “strong alignment between management, shareholders and the board at an important stage” of its development.
Meanwhile, Malcolm McAully, who has led the company as executive chairman since July 2024, will remain on the board as non-executive chairman.
McAully said: “I took on the role of executive chairman as an interim appointment to address key turnaround initiatives that have been in place since late 2024. It was never my intention to remain in the role indefinitely and the board has been considering a number of transition options.”
Knight moved from Melbourne to Hobart in June, taking up the role of sales and marketing director.
The publicly listed company described Knight as playing a “central role” in various initiatives, including expanding its presence in Coles stores from roughly 300 outlets to around 800, and "re-establishing" Costco as a customer.
Knight was also involved in the acquisitions of Elato and Brilliant Food Australia, deals struck this year and in 2025, respectively.
In April, Sydney-based Brilliant Food Australia, which sells a range of salmon and trout products to wholesale clients, was acquired for A$300,000 (then $205,888).
It followed a similar share-based deal in November to purchase the Australian ice-cream brand Elato. Pure Foods Tasmania acquired all intellectual property, brand assets, recipes and supply arrangements relating to Elato Ice Cream.
The move was part of the company’s strategy of “acquiring and integrating premium food businesses with established product-market fit”.
Knight said of his appointment: “Over the past year, we have made progress across customer growth, product relaunches and strategic acquisitions, but there is still significant work ahead. I look forward to working closely with the board, staff, customers, suppliers and shareholders as we enter this next phase.”
Pure Foods Tasmania reported a net loss of A$2.8m for the 12 months ended in June 2025, an improvement compared to a loss of A$3.9m in the previous year.
Annual revenues declined 28% to A$5.4m.
The company said its performance was impacted by the exit from “unprofitable” product lines.
In 2021, Australian plant-based ice-cream maker The Cashew Creamery was added to Pure Foods Tasmania's portfolio following other deals for salmon and trout firm Woodbridge Smokehouse and Daly Potato Co.
