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CMV
HISTORY (page 3)
1980's - The decision to diversify
In 1979 the Company started investigating the potential
to diversify into agricultural ventures. The first major
investment commenced in 1981 with the forming of a partnership
(Olney Syndicate) to grow 200 hectares of almonds on a
property at Lindsay Point in north-western Victoria, some
25km east of Renmark. A decision to further invest in
agriculture was made in 1984 with the purchase of a property
at Robinvale in Victoria, for the purpose of developing
a 130 hectare pistachio tree orchard (Pistachio Producers
of Australia).
In September 1988 negotiations were concluded with Volvo
Australia to take over the factory run Volvo truck dealership
at Campbellfield in northern Melbourne. This business
now operates as CMV Truck & Bus Pty Ltd. A further outlet
for this business at Clayton in south-east Melbourne was
acquired in 1993 from Volvo Australia.
In November 1988 CMI Toyota acquired the city dealership
for Toyota cars located on West Terrace, Adelaide. This
resulted in the relocating of the Toyota commercial sales
activities from Flinders Street to be merged with the
Toyota passenger vehicles at West Terrace.
With the production of pistachios from the Robinvale property
imminent a partnership was formed with another large pistachio
grower in 1992. The
Australian Pioneer Pistachio Company was formed to
cater for the processing and selling of the Australian
pistachio crop. The APPC factory is based at Robinvale
with the sales department operating from a Sydney office.
1994 - The
60th year celebrations
1994, the year in which the company celebrated 60 years
of operations, the Company once again became involved
with Chrysler as a metropolitan Adelaide dealer for
Chrysler and Jeep vehicles.
Further agricultural expansion occurred in 1994 with
the signing of a grape supply contract with Southcorp
Wines for the establishment of 120 hectares of wine
grapes over a 4 year period at our Robinvale property.
In 1997 a purpose built factory was constructed at Loxton
to process and pack and sell almonds on behalf of Olney
Syndicate and other growers. This facility is called
Riverland Almonds and CMV Group has the controlling
interest in this enterprise.
In June 1997 CMI Toyota acquired a Toyota dealership
at Christies Beach which has since become CMI Southside.
This attractive dealership on Beach Road at Christies
Beach adjacent to the Collonades Shopping Centre was
a strategic move for the company in this rapidly growing
area of Adelaide. During 1997 the Group also became
the dealer for the Lexus range of luxury vehicles produced
by Toyota. The franchise is located in a purpose built
facility on West Terrace, Adelaide, adjacent to the
CMI Toyota dealership.
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