R.M. Williams to Expand into Food Products

Australia’s most respected bush outfitter is now expanding into the food industry:

THE famous RM Williams name will be linked to
a range of premium beef, lamb, chicken and grain products — as well as
carbon reduction and biofuel schemes — under a major new alliance
unveiled by the bush outfitter.

Ken Cowley,
whose family owns RM Williams, yesterday announced the creation of RM
Williams Agricultural Holdings — a joint venture with rural investment
company Primary Holdings International.

Primary brings several properties to the new venture, which will
develop a diversified portfolio of properties and companies to supply
“a full range of premium-branded organic and protein-based commodities,
for both local and international markets”.

Mr Cowley, who bought out his partners in RW Williams in 2003 to
take the company private, will be chairman of RMWAH. He is a former
chairman and chief executive of News Limited (owner of The Australian).
RMWAH executive director Hamish Turner, the chief executive of RM
Williams, said the new company was the culmination of “a number of
years of work from both Primary Holdings and from RM Williams”, which
owns 40 stores in Australia and sells its boots and clothing in at
least 15 countries.  [The Australian]

So the next time I buy a pair of boots from a R.M. Williams store instead of a free hat maybe they will give me a free steak instead?