OUR STORY
WELCOME TO FABAL
FABAL (Food And Beverage Australia Limited) is involved in food, agribusiness and beverages sourced from the clean, green and pristine Australian farming lands.
Our Foundation
The FABAL Group began in 1982 as a law school project by four founding partners. In 1994, they expanded into agribusiness, developing and managing vineyards across Australia's cool climate regions. Horticulture joined our portfolio in 2008.
Our retail journey started in 2016 with the Vineyard Road Cellar Door (VRCD) opening in Langhorne Creek in March, followed by a Shanghai office and distributor partnership that August. In 2017, the co-developed of Vasse Virgin, a West Australian skincare company at Seppeltsfield. By March 2019, in the Barossa Valley a new agri-tourism venture opened featuring Barossa Valley Chocolate Company (BVCC), VRCD, and Benni's Café with ice-creamery.
Our Journey
Navigating Challenges
COVID-19 severely impacted our retail operations. Then in late 2020, China imposed heavy tariffs on Australian wine, effectively closing that export market.
Growth and Evolution
Originally owned by 38 shareholders from 16 families, we welcomed seven new shareholders representing staff and director after June 2021 and were renamed Food And Beverage Australia Limited (FABAL).
In 2022, we celebrated our 40th anniversary and acquired Marandoo Estate Limited and National Vineyard Fund of Australia Limited. This consolidated us into a more versatile group now owned by 136 shareholders representing over 100 Australian families, managing more than 800 hectares of vineyards across three states.
Looking Forward
While China lifted its wine tariffs in March 2024, industry oversupply persisted. Two of FABAL's major grape customers, Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers, merged to form one of the world's largest wine groups, significantly reducing their demand for our red grape varieties.
That April, our long-standing Group CEO Chris Day retired due to ill health.
In response to market contraction, we've launched a vineyard removal service in 2025, helping growers exit the industry or transition to alternative crops. We remain committed to securing the best outcomes for grape sales across our estates while strengthening our reputation for premium fruit production.
Our Values
Our Goals
FABAL's strategic goal is to develop and build premium quality food and beverage products from Australian sourced fruit. We seek to brand these products for Australian and international consumption. The aim is to have simple, authentic, natural and environmentally conscious products that sustain the clean and green image of Australia.
Our Culture
FABAL has been developing its business since 1982. While we employ modern management techniques, there are four simple rules by which we govern:
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Family is always first
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Do your job to the best of your ability
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Don't let your team mate down
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Do the right thing
Our History
FABAL is a family owned group and the original four families still remain owners today. Family ownership continues to be the keystone after 42 years. Our goal is to produce premium and authentic Australian food and wine from estates managed by our team of experienced professionals.
