PROFILE OF THE MENDOLIA FAMILY OPERATIONS

BUSINESS OPERATIONS:
*  FREMANTLE SARDINE CO.
*  BREAKSEA HOLDINGS PTY LTD trading as MENDOLIA SEAFOODS
*  MENDOLIA FISHING CO.

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES:
-  FISH PROCESSING
-  PURSE SEINE FISHING  
-  CRAYFISHING

FAMILY BACKGROUND:                       11 October 2001

Francolino Mendolia and his wife Rosa arrived in Fremantle from Sicily early in the 1950’s.  They begun fishing the abundant waters around the port city almost immediately.

Frank and Rosa have 6 children;  Enza, Jim, Nella, Carmelo, Franca and Aldo. 

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

For two main reasons it has been a long held dream of Frank’s to establish an anchovy/sardine processing works in Fremantle. The first is that almost from day one Frank noticed huge stocks of high quality fish in the waters off Fremantle.  He was, and has always been impressed with their quality and abundance.

The other reason for interest was that as a boy in Sicily, Frank was a fisherman and his family worked in anchovy processing factories that produced the kind of anchovies we are used to eating in Australia.

With anchovy stocks disappearing from polluted waters in Europe and a noticeable decline in quality and taste of imported anchovy in Australia, he believed that by combining the traditional European process and the local high quality fish from Western Australia that he could produce a world class product better in every way than the product currently being imported and sold in Australia. 

Frank passed away in early 1995, but not before seeing his dream of his own processing plant in Fremantle being realised.  His eldest son Jim, wife Lyn and brothers Carmelo and Aldo, established the “Bella del Tindari” and “Auschovies” brand of anchovy and sardine fillets, and built a processing plant which began operation in June 1988. 

Jim has combined all his fathers traditional European methods for processing and curing anchovies with the latest hygienic machinery and equipment available and some innovative ideas of his own.   The result is a product recognised as the best in Australia and perhaps the best salt cured fish product in the world.

Jim and Lyn, with the support of family and friends, worked literally day and night establishing curing cycles, methods, packaging and developing their product for the local and overseas markets.  The result being that the “Auschovies” can be found in 5 star restaurants in Australia and S.E. Asia.

The “Auschovies” brand was also introduced in supermarkets in W.A. in a 120gram tin.

Another unique industry which has been developed by the family is the fresh/frozen sardine fillets for the Australian market.  Sardines had previously been regarded as having no significant commercial value.   Comparatively few consumers were aware, or valued, the sardine as the delicacy it is.  This is in stark contrast to the use in Europe, Asia and North Amercia where it has been recognised as a valuable food source for many years.

The nutritional value of sardines has been overlooked by local consumers. To assist in the introduction of the local sardine as a valuable, low cost and nutritious food source, the first “Sardine Festival” was held in January 1991. Sardines were cooked on the Esplanade park in Fremantle by family and friendsand were given to the public for free tastings.  This event has grown over the years with the crowd attendance the last three years being over 70,000.

Australian sardine fillets, both natural and crumbed, have now gained acceptance in both Australian and Asian markets. 

The Fremantle Sardine Co. Produced Australia’s first canned sardines in September 1996, in addition to smoked sardine fillets. July 1997 saw the11/09/2001 addition of marinated sardine fillets to our value added product range.

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