Cathels family enjoy the fruits of their labour

Ian, Hannah and Rob Cathels all proudly contribute to the family business, N&A Group.

The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree for the Cathels family, as a third generation takes the helm of one of Australia’s largest vertically integrated horticultural enterprises.

With a supply chain that today includes producing, packing, warehousing, and distribution – including export capabilities – The N&A Group’s growth over almost 70  years is reflective of its dedication to ensuring consumers can enjoy the freshest of produce.

And with values still rooted in the rich Batlow soils from which the business has evolved, Hannah Cathels is proud to be helping lead a global business, with family at heart. 

Hannah, her brother Davey, and cousin Jack have all transitioned into the family-owned and run business, while her father, Rob and uncle Ian, continue to lead.

From her grandfather, David Cathels, initial apple orchard purchase, “Ardrossan” in 1967, the Cathels now own five orchards in the Batlow region, and in 2022 formed a strategic partnership with the De Maio family to incorporate Sunland Fresh Fruit, a premium stone fruit brand, into the business.

The N&A Group also enjoys long-term exclusive partnerships with key suppliers across a range of regions to ensure a diversity of produce – including avocados, pears, and mangos – and ensure supply consistency.

Yet despite the scale and sophistication of the business, the traditional family-farming culture within N&A Group is the source of great pride.

“We’re a bit of a funny bunch,” Hannah chuckles. “I feel lucky to be in a business where I can have daily banter and a few laughs with my brother and cousin, and I think this reflects the organisational structure of N&A Group, it’s flat and inclusive with a culture of collaboration – which is very intentional.”

The future’s looking peachy

This summer Hannah will be reaching for ‘Ondine’ peaches and nectarines, a flat variety of the fruit, developed in France and only recently grown in Australia.

“The flat peaches and nectarines are so fun to work with, and the kids just love them,” Hannah – herself a mother of two – smiles.

“They easily fit in lunch boxes, the eating quality is terrific, and you can still eat them when they’re a bit hard, you don’t have to wait until they’re soft to get that sweet stone fruit taste, and they have a consistent eating quality that makes them a summer ‘go-to’.”

With a growing season spanning from November to March, compared to other flat varieties short supply window of three to four weeks, she said the Ondine variety has the potential to be a genuine summer staple.
 

Hannah with Ch 10 Farm to Fork Host, Louis Tikaram.

“I really do love stone fruit season, there’s so much seasonal excitement around peaches, nectarines, cherries and mangos, and such a strong association with summer holidays and Christmas – I think everyone looks forward to their first mango or peach of the season.” 

“Our future work will be identifying the next Ondine, and other fresh produce that will get Australian households equally excited.”

While the businesses’ original enterprise, the humble apple, is one of the most competitive markets, it also provides a thrilling challenge for the next generation.

“Apples have been somewhat commoditised, it’s a bit of a saturated market, yet we’re mitigating that through research and development, working with breeders overseas for protected genetics and branding, and this sort of innovation represents exciting opportunity that will progress our business into the future.”

One of the businesses’ transformations has been the progression into developing and growing Club apple varieties – trademarked apple types marketed with specific quality and production standards.

“We were part of a group of growers that developed and introduced Kanzi Apples to the Australian market over ten years ago, and following Kanzi’s success, we’re developing a new apple varieties, Swing, exclusive to N&A Group in Australia.

Sunrise Magic is another variety N&A Group is currently developing in collaboration with the Fruit Australia Group.

Hannah explains that while the business has evolved to keep up with the needs of the market, and to ensure a streamlined operation from supplier, to retailer, to customer, it’s the family’s strong relationship focus that’s been key to its business success.

High quality partnerships with suppliers has been an important factor in the success of N&A Group, Hannah explains, with the family placing value on transparent, trustworthy, and mutually beneficial long-term relationships.
 

Louis with Peter De Maio in the Sunland orchard.

“By the very nature of the industry, it’s difficult to be successful on your own, we rely on collaboration for success –with a concentrated retail market growers need to band together, particularly when bringing new varieties to market.”

“We’re strategic in our relationships, and work with growers with similar values to our own, and those we genuinely enjoy working with.”

The N&A Group’s strong family values also underlines a strong rapport with retailers across Australia, and the globe. 

“It still feels traditional for fresh fruit and vegetable producers to be family owned, and having supplied Woolworths and Coles for 70 years and Aldi since it launched in Australia, I think it’s reassuring for these retailers to see the same faces, and the same family name, year after year.”

“Now, with a third generation on board there’s obvious succession, and planned longevity for N&A Group, which is equally exciting for the business, its suppliers, and retailers.”

Farm to Fork showcases N&A family nationally

The Cathels recently had the opportunity to showcase their produce thanks to an ongoing partnership between Rabobank and Ch10’s Farm to Fork.

The cooking program, which airs nationally and globally and reaches 23 million viewers across the season, aims to inspire consumers to not only cook at home but also have a better appreciation of where and how their food is grown by featuring Rabobank clients, sharing their stories on-farm.
 

Louis on farm with N&A Group’s Willis Casey

Filmed at the Sunland stone fruit orchards on the cross border regions of Cobram, Victoria and Barooga, NSW, Hannah embraced the opportunity to share the passion and hard work that goes into producing fresh produce.

“People tend to get a bit emotional about farming stories, and it’s heartening to have this opportunity to put a face to the person growing their food – particularly when it’s a family – that’s the people consumers want to see feeding Australia.”

“My hope is that after these episodes air, viewers will pick up a pear, for example, with a new appreciation for the years of planning, development and physical tree growth that’s gone into getting that fruit to the supermarket shelf.”

Farm to Fork host Louis Tikaram, of Brisbane’s Stanley Restaurant, incorporated a range of N&A Group produce into five recipes, and Hannah said the team, and experience, was enormous fun.

Grateful to Rabobank for the opportunity, she said the initiative demonstrated the ‘above and beyond’ consideration the bank provides not only clients, but industry and consumers alike.

“It was so refreshing, and surprising, to be given an opportunity like this from a bank, it was very exciting for our business, and a huge value add from Rabobank when you have branded products such as ours.”
 

Louis and Hannah prepare a pear and apple chutney using orchard fresh produce.

With N&A Group enjoying a close working relationship with Rabobank, and their manager Mat Tilley – a NSW Major Agri Client (MAC) Manager – Hannah laughs that they’re on the phone a few times a week at least.

“Our values, and the way we conduct business is very similar to Rabobank, and this is another relationship we see thriving in the long term – having a dedicated manager like Mat so engaged in our business and its growth is exciting.”

The N&A Group’s joint venture with the De Maio family’s Sunland Fresh Fruit is just one example, Hannah suggests, that was greatly streamlined thanks to Rabobank’s agricultural specialisation and expertise.

“This was a huge step for our business, and certainly the largest development we’ve embarked upon over the past 20 years, and it’s set us up for growth and enormous potential.”

“Being able to execute that complex deal so efficiently was reassuring, and the relationship we have with the De Maio family, who are so good at what they do, will underpin the success of the enterprise well into the future.” 

Farm to Fork airs Monday to Friday on Channel 10 at 4pm, with repeat broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday, and is also available on demand via 10play.com.au

You can tune in to N&A Group episodes:

• Friday 5th December - Flat Peach - Flat Peach Summer Salad
• Monday 5th January - Plums - Stanley Signature Plum Sauce
• Monday 2nd March - Apples - Apple Som Yum
• Friday 6th March - Pears - Pear & Apple Chutney
• And watch Friday 14th November’s Episode 10 - Flat Nectarine - Grilled Flat Nectarine, Macadamia & Burrata on demand.