Roger Sexton founds Beston Global Foods in South Australia from an agri-economic global perspective on trade
Dr Roger Sexton brought a background in economics, agriculture and global trade to setting up Beston Global Foods in South Australia. Inset: Master cheesemaker Paul Connolly established the company's award-winning reputation.
Images courtesy Beston Global Foods.
Dr Roger Sexton was the founder and developer of Beston Global Food, first listed on the Australian stock exchange in 2015, and soon winning top awards for its South Australian dairy products – as well as establishing a meat subsidiary.
Beston Global Foods invested $26.5 million to fit out the derelict Jervois factory with state-of-the-art technology sourced mainly from Italy to produce Beston’s Edwards Crossing premium quality mozzarella cheese, as well as byproducts including whey powder, cream and butter. Its Murray Bridge factory produced award-winning Beston’s Edwards Crossing cheese and Mable’s cream cheese product ranges, as well as hard cheeses such as gruyere and parmesan. It also produces dairy desserts from rice pudding to custard.
Led by master cheesemaker Paul Connolly, Beston Global Food went past 130 gold, silver, bronze and other national dairy awards for its products.
Sexton brought a background in economics, agriculture and global trade to Beston. With a doctorate and master’s degrees in economics from North Carolina State University and an honours degree (first class) in sconomics from Flinders University in South Australia, Sexton was awarded the Bank of Adelaide prize in economics in 1970 and the American agricultural economics society outstanding doctoral program award in 1976. Sexton had completed his secondary education at Urrbrae Agricultural High School and worked for the bureau of agricultural economics and was an executive director of the industries assistance commission, specialising in rural industries. He led trade and investment missions, particularly in China and the Asia Pacific, for more than 30 years and was a chairman of IOOF Holdings.
With fellow director Stephen Gerlach, Sexton ran Beston Pacific Asset Management that was paid about $2 million a year to advise and manage the Beston Global Food, and also pay senior staff. This arrangement was ended by shareholders in 2022.
Also in 2022, Beston Global Food Company announced major export contracts to Japan taking about 20% of its mozzarella production. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with Thai company KCG for to take up shares equivalent to 12% cent of the company. The two companies also would set a long-term agreement for supplying dairy, meat and alternative meat products to Thailand.
