Meet the Australian meat processing group that’s carving out international success

Restaurants and supermarkets around the world can’t get enough of Australia’s high-quality beef and lamb – a challenge that Victorian-based processor Australian Meat Group is rising to meet.

In just 10 years since AMG was established, it has successfully tapped into domestic supply chains but also built thriving export markets in the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East and Indonesia. “Our volume has really grown year-on-year, and it's still growing today,” says AMG managing director Gilbert Cabral.

Even the current market uncertainty is unlikely to slow AMG’s relentless growth. “We've got great relationships with importers and retailers in the US, so we haven't had to pull back there. But we've also had strong inquiries from Japan and other countries like China to take up that space if required,” he says.

Building a beef empire

Cabral took on the capital-intensive task of purchasing and upgrading AMG’s first abattoir in Dandenong, on Melbourne’s southern outskirts. He worked alongside owner, Joe Catalfamo, a migrant who arrived in Australia in the 1960s and grew his suburban butcher shop into a meat processing empire, the Tasman Group, before exiting it in 2008. 

The Dandenong plant began processing cattle in 2015. A second processing plant was purchased in 2019 in the New South Wales Riverina town of Cootamundra. Beef production started in 2024, and by early 2027 it is slated to become a ‘multi-species’ site with the addition of a separate production line for lamb.

Processing with purpose

With a combined workforce of 1,200, the two sites currently process about 1,700 head of cattle per day. Cabral expects this to rise to 2,100 head per day as new capital investments and process efficiencies are rolled out. 

That includes an initiative to process more kilos per animal – such as harvesting offal – in a bid to maximise profits and reduce waste output.

Rock-solid support

Of course, every new innovation comes with a price tag and that’s where NAB Agribusiness fits in.

“We started off with them, they're excellent partners to work with,” Cabral says. “We had to get the large cap-ex to develop the site, then we had to find labour, find new customers, and work our way up the customer chain. 

“To their credit, they stuck with us and continue to assist us through those tough periods. I can confidently say we are here today, operating two sites and the number of people we employ, and the market we have, due to NAB support.”

Relationships matter

NAB Senior Agribusiness Manager Matt Woods was deeply involved in purchasing and upgrading the Cootamundra plant, meeting AMG’s injection of equity with a mix of term, debt and working capital solutions.

Supporting AMG’s capital-intensive needs wasn’t a difficult decision. “I've spent a lot of time with Joe, both in the business but I’ve also been out to his home and listened to him sharing his journey. I’ve met his wife, his kids and his grandkids,” he says.

“I love getting involved with these types of families because you grow with them and learn so much. It’s all based on building really strong relationships. You go in to bat for them and find ways to support them.”