There are some exciting opportunities ahead for whoever buys Lively Linseed, owner Jacqui Donoghue says – and possibly some for her, too.
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Mrs Donoghue has put the business on the market for private sale, saying it’s good timing while it’s going from strength to strength.
As for her future, she said she had “nothing specifically” planned, but “I haven’t said no to politics”.
“We’re just making some changes in 2019,” she said.
“We’ve had the business since 2007 and it’s in a growth phase – and I thought if I’m ever going to sell the business, better to sell it while it’s still growing and there’s still potential for the new owners to expand and put their stamp on it.”
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Lively Linseed has made the headlines over and over as the Tambar Springs-based business continues to crack new markets, and be nominated for – and win – awards.
Mrs Donoghue said she hoped the buyer would be a primary producer: “I can see it going as an add-on to someone already in the food industry.”
She said the business’s next opportunity was in the meatless protein market, which offered consumers more choice, and catered to their cultural and dietary preferences.
“We’re probably going to launch a meatless patty: a shelf-stable pantry item that – depending on whether we’re targeting vegans – you could add an egg or water to,” she said.
“There’s a lot of concern out there in the marketplace amongst primary producers with this meatless revolution going on at the moment.
“I don’t particularly see it as a threat to the red meat industry; I just think it offers consumers more choice, which is always what consumers are looking for.”
Political future?
Mrs Donoghue said she’d been asked “a lot” to run as an independent candidate in the state seat of Tamworth or federal seat of Parkes – but the latter interested her more.
“If I was to run, it would be federal … I think federal has the ability to achieve more for the time you’re going to put into it,” she said.
“I’m not young, I’m not a career politician – although I have always been interested in politics; but I have a strong sense of social justice and that’s what motivates me ...
“I just love rural and regional Australia and just think we need strong representation.
“We’re losing our voice and, if we don’t have a united front from both our state and federal representatives and our agriculture representatives – be it NSW Farmers, NFF or whoever – the rural towns and communities are going to suffer.”
Mrs Donoghue said that, even after the sale of Lively Linseed, she would continue on the Gunendah Business Chamber committee and as a mentor for other exporters or would-be exporters, both informally and with Austrade.
- to inquire about the business, call Jacqui Donoghue on 0488 442 351.