Mr Young received the Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries Ltd Meritorious Service Award at the Produce Marketing Association’s 2012 Fresh Connections conference, held in Melbourne, last week.
His selection comes after a 22 year career with the Brisbane Markets, which has seen him grow the 77ha facility, at Rocklea, in both land area and site development, with more than $1 billion worth of fresh produce through its gates annually and providing work for up to 3,500 on a daily basis.
This highly regarded award was based on criteria that included promotion and support of the Australian and State Fruit and Vegetable Industries Chambers, interest and involvement in the total horticulture industry, business and personal ethics and regular attendance and contribution to conferences and activities.
Andrew was noted for his commitment to the industry, voice on industry issues and in particular, his leadership during the January 2011 flood and its recovery.
His achievements include:
- Brisbane Markets purchase: Playing a leading role as part of the project team responsible for what became the successful bid to purchase the Brisbane Markets site in 2002. As CEO, he coordinated the seamless transition of ownership with Brismark becoming a major shareholder.
- Credit Service leadership: Strengthened by-laws for an ever-improving Brismark Credit Service system that has seen the organisation’s service grow to become a leader in its field in Australia.
- Improved services: Introduced a raft of new services to support Brismark members, including the pallet control system which aids wholesalers to retrieve many thousands of lost dollars due to poor practices in the past.
- National standards: Promoting the Australian Chamber’s national standards and endorsing their use to other wholesalers through Brismark.
- FreshTest: Ensured this food safety testing program has grown and is well resourced to deliver one of the more important Brismark services to wholesalers and growers since its inception in 2003.
- Promotion and communication: Creating an industry liaison position in 2005, and over the years, used it as an avenue for teaching and communicating with industry about Brismark, Brisbane Markets and the wholesale markets in general through delegations, conference sponsorships, speaking at industry events and forming Memorandum of Understandings with growing regions.
He is at the forefront of a range of change management projects that has already seen the upgrading of market facilities, a higher horticultural profile in Queensland and solid marketing of the industry’s products to a fickle consumer base.
For more information:
Vanessa Kennedy
Brisbane Markets Limited
Tel: +61 7 3915 4258
Mob: +61 0438 388 111
[email protected]