11/05/2026
He got a call from the man he was competing against and that conversation kickstarted the next evolution of JL King & Co. Twenty five years later, it’s one of the most significant food manufacturing businesses in Regional Victoria.
Micheal Robertson is the managing director and owner of JL King and Co, a family owned food manufacturing and distribution business right here in Bendigo. The business has existed for over a century in the region, now producing more than two million meals every week. These meals serve customers from Broome to Hobart. And it all started with an eight pallet truck, a docket book and a calculator.
In this episode of Remarkable Regional Business I sat down with Micheal and the recently appointed CFO, Marc Smith, to get the full story of how this business grew and where it's going next.
Here's some of what we cover:
- How a fresh produce wholesaler became one of regional Victoria's most significant food manufacturers one customer request at a time;
- The story behind the Simply Tasty brand and what it takes to get a product onto the shelves of IGA and Woolworths;
- Why despite being offered grants to build in Queensland they never seriously considered leaving Bendigo;
- What it looks like to build a new facility and already be outgrowing it before you've moved in and;
An epic business story that people in Bendigo drive past every day without having any idea of the scale of what's happening inside.
👀 This latest conversation is out now on Remarkable Regional Business. Check it on your favourite podcast platform or YouTube.
