COMMUNITY AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Kapunda is a 4,000-person town with a big footprint in Johnson Group’s story.The company sponsors arts and sport, supports surrounding communities, and turns relationship-building into a business practice— from informal BBQs to something more unusual: wine. On the Kapunda property, the family transplanted century-plus vines from a Barossa estate and now bottles ~5,000 bottles a year. Most of it is given away—to farmers, customers, and partners.“We love food, wine, and friendships,” Johnson says. “It’s our way of saying thanks.” PARTNERSHIPS THAT MOVE THE WORLD Johnson draws attention to the reality that export success depends on partnerships and fostering these relationships over the long term.The group’s freight brokerage JV with the TM Fildes family handles most overseas shipments, extending a decadeslong relationship between the families and their now-adult children. On the production side, a JV Feed factory in Ningbo deepens market insight and responsiveness. Upstream, relationships with growers are paramount. Johnson Group coaches farmers on agronomy, buys across cycles, and shares data to help suppliers plan and invest. Downstream, the company collaborates with importers, wholesalers, and end users to optimize last-mile delivery—the critical step that turns a good ration into actual animal performance. Johnson Group also has a joint venture with the Japanese company Asahi Agri. A feed factory, located 15 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 11 J.T. JOHNSON AND SONS
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