CEO update
Harvest season is complete for crop 2026. Well done and congratulations to you all for navigating the period of increased activity, long days and the professional challenge that harvest represents. We have plenty to celebrate and a few items to reflect on. In this current market, where we are not using all of our hop gardens, harvest management was challenging. Outcomes around cost control and strong yields was an important win for the business and positions us with plenty of great hops to hit the market with. The launch of Luna was impaired by issues in establishment, creating a strong focus area for the coming season to take advantage of the momentum this new release created.
Stephan and Alex Barth, along with the independent directors, attended the May Board meeting, which included tours of both Tasmanian and Victorian operations. The shareholders acknowledge the world-class capability and capacity we have here at HPA. They inspected the pellet plant operation in detail and were very impressed. Although the market is tough currently, the shareholders are optimistic and we have their full support to continue putting Aussie-grown hops in the hands of brewers around the world.
Customer and quality audit
This week we wrapped up our final customer audit of the season, one that’s been busier than ever! We’re proud to have successfully completed our ISO9001 and FSSC22000 certification audits with our new auditors, who were highly impressed with our practices. It was also a fantastic opportunity to host important international customers across harvest and pelleting, including ABi, Lion/Kirin, CUB/Asahi, and the Hop Quality Group. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback on our systems, particularly the new standard set at our Hop Central FSSC22000 site. Of course, in true audit spirit, a few opportunities for continuous improvement were identified, all of which are aligned with our forward plans. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our farm and pelleting teams, who consistently deliver high quality hops, an outstanding effort all around!
The new magnets installed on farms this season have delivered excellent results, significantly increasing metal object collection onsite and reducing stops at the Hop Central bale breaker metal detector, great work by the farm teams in driving this improvement. Hop Central has also achieved a consistent run this season, producing high-quality pellets, with recent improvement projects clearly boosting both efficiency and effectiveness across operations.
Building a stronger global brand
Since 1988, HPA has been part of the global BarthHaas Group, alongside Haas in the US and BarthHaas in Europe. Together, we are the world’s largest supplier of hop products and services, built on a family-owned legacy spanning more than 230 years. As the market evolves, we see an exciting opportunity to align our separate regional brands under one global brand: BarthHaas. This change is intended to strengthen our market position, improve collaboration across partners, and position us for growth. It’s important to note, this is not a change of ownership. This transformation will be phased over 12–24 months, with careful consideration and planning. We’ll continue to keep you informed on the global brand as we move through the process.
We’re excited to share that the shareholders have approved the Guiding Principles. The Guiding Principles describe who we want to be and how we want to behave. They will form the foundation of our code of conduct going forward. As the leadership team starts to think about rolling out key projects in the coming months, your input and involvement will be invaluable. We encourage everyone to embrace this chapter with curiosity and an open mind — the opportunities this change presents are real, and your enthusiasm will play a key role in shaping the future of BarthHaas both in Australia and on the world stage. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your manager or a member of the leadership team.
Looking ahead
With the end of the financial year looming, we wrap up the year gone by and hammer out the strategy and forecasts for the coming 12 months. Tough market conditions, budget constraints and complex operational challenges will be the defining elements of our short-term outlook. Quality in our execution will be more important than ever before.
Thank you for the dedication, pride and care you bring to your work. It makes a difference!
Owen Johnston
Chief Executive Officer
