NSW table grape producer The Grape House Group has collapsed into liquidation one year after a legal scandal that ended in a $1 million fine.
Now, the company has debts of $43.6 million.
The Euston-based business is in its second generation of family ownership. Founded in 1952, it exports its products globally.
But the Asic company portal published a liquidation notice for Grape House and companies associated with the owning Costa family. Members of the company met on October 2 and decided to wind it up.
Hamish Alan MacKinnon and Nicholas Giasoumi have been appointed joint liquidators.
Documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph say that the company incurred extensive losses following heavy damage to its crops in 2023. Related employees are owed around $346,000, and unrelated employees are owed around $78,500.
The remaining debt is understood to be owed to related parties and corporate entities.
The Grape House’s 2025 fine from the NSW District Court came after it was found to be deliberately trying to bypass controls to export table grapes to New Zealand.
“An outbreak of Queensland fruit fly in New Zealand would jeopardise New Zealand’s multi-billion-dollar horticultural industry,” the Department of Agriculture’s deputy secretary of biosecurity, operations and compliance, Justine Saunders, said at the time.
“Damaging Australia’s international trade reputation could negatively impact legitimate exporters, which would significantly affect Australian farmers.”
