Frank Mitolo

Frank Mitolo, the visionary behind Mitolo Family Farms, established the company as Australia's leading producer of fresh potatoes and onions.

As a sales and marketing veteran, Frank believes that entrepreneurship requires creativity, courage and the ability to move forward without having all the answers. He lives by the motto "all or nothing". To Frank, this means that if you are going to do anything, whether large or small, it should be done in the best way possible with no shortcuts.

Frank grew Mitolo Family Farms as a vertically integrated company that controls the entire production process. This begins with the selection and creation of economically viable Australian cultivars and extends to maintaining the potato seed pipeline to ensure quality and production throughout generations. The company's strategic distribution of farms across various regions mitigates risks associated with climate, disease and insects. To improve efficiency and excellence, Mitolo Family Farms constantly develops its processes and products, striving to accommodate changing customer and consumer needs. The company also invests in cutting-edge processing and farming technology to promote sustainability and efficiency.

Over 90% of the company's produce is sourced from its farms in Riverland, Mallee, Virginia and Hillston, located in South Australia and New South Wales. Its processing facilities in Virginia and Hillston are responsible for gathering, grading and packing the vegetables, ensuring the delivery of fresh, high-quality products to major retailers and wholesale marketplaces across the country.

Starting as a modest onion packing business in South Australia, Mitolo Family Farms has grown into one of Australia's leading horticulture firms. This success can be attributed to Frank's vision of vertical integration and understanding of the importance of water. By purchasing land and water holdings in Riverland, Mallee and Virginia, Mitolo has been able to supply washed potatoes from their South Australian farms year-round. This has helped the company build strong relationships with major retailers like Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. Mitolo's long-term varietal development has resulted in an array of unique and exclusive varietals, including low-carb options, for Australian consumers.

Frank defines success as achieving profitable results within a realistic timeframe. Frank has made several significant business moves, including acquiring Oakville Produce in 2016, which doubled the company's size, and acquiring Thomas Foods' potato division, which led to exponential growth. He also successfully prepared and completed the sale of the business.