Be the largest and most profitable food manufacturer in the South Pacific.
Transparent: We are honest and accountable with ourselves about where we are at, so we can get to where we want to be.
Confident: We believe we have what it takes to do amazing things.
Bold: We are a home-grown company punching above its weight.
The Paradise Story
1930s – The Birth of Morobe Bakery Pty Ltd
Our journey begins in the early 1930s when two enterprising individuals, Robert McEwan and Captain R.O. Mant, operated bakeries in Wau and Salamaua in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. In 1937, recognizing the potential of joining forces, Captain Mant’s passion for flying limited his time for bakery management, and ‘Scotty’ McEwan took charge, giving birth to Morobe Bakery Pty Ltd.
1937 – The ‘Morobeen’ Biscuits
In the same year, 1937, we introduced the first ‘Morobeen’ brand biscuits, created using an innovative oil-fired oven. This marked the beginning of a new tradition in PNG biscuits.
1948 – The Emergence of Paradise Bakery
In 1948, another chapter was unfolding. The Wong family ventured into a small bakery as part of their café in Rabaul, giving rise to Paradise Bakery.
1967 – Biscuit Shipments to the Mainland
Demand for our ‘Navy’ biscuits grew exponentially, leading to shipments to the mainland.
1970 – The New Factory in Lae
1970 marked a significant milestone when we constructed a new factory on the present site in Lae, enhancing our production capacity.
1972 – Arnott’s Biscuits (Australia) Pty Ltd Invests
In 1972, we attracted the attention of Arnott’s Biscuits (Australia) Pty Ltd, which acquired a majority share in our company. This partnership paved the way for further growth and progress.
1985 – World’s Largest Cracker Biscuit
As part of the 1985 Morobe Show in Lae, the company made the world’s largest cracker biscuit, which was ratified in The Guinness Book of Records in the 1987 edition.
1992 – Arnott’s Biscuits Limited Purchase
In 1992, a significant development occurred when Arnott’s Biscuits Limited, a fully owned company of Campbell’s Soups (USA), purchased Paradise Bakery, merging the ‘Morobeen’ and ‘Paradise’ biscuit brands into one company.
1993 – Morobe Bakery Becomes Arnotts Biscuits (PNG)
Morobe Bakery Pty Limited is now Arnotts Biscuits (PNG) Limited, focusing solely on biscuits, and commanding a 75% share of the domestic PNG market.
2007 – Local Ownership and Paradise Foods Limited
In July 2007, Campbell’s/Arnott’s sold their shares to the other two shareholders: Nambawan Super and Comrade Trustees Services Limited. This transition marked the birth of Paradise Foods Limited, a 100% PNG-owned company, owned by Papua New Guineans, operating at international standards.
2014 – Paradise Foods Launches Tru Tru Wara
In 2014, Paradise Foods made a significant milestone in the beverage industry by launching ‘Tru Tru Wara.’ This product launch marked a pivotal moment in our company’s history and has since become an integral part of our product portfolio.
2016 – Queen Emma Chocolate – A Sweet Success Story
In 2016, we embarked on a new venture with Queen Emma Chocolate, named after Emma Coe, a pivotal figure in PNG’s cocoa cultivation history. This brand, producing 120 tonnes of chocolate annually, is renowned for its natural ingredients, sourced directly from local smallholder farmers, without added preservatives. The brand’s success is attributed to the quality of PNG cocoa beans, known for their diverse flavour notes, and it’s expanding internationally, with plans to reach overseas supermarkets.
2018 – Acquisition of Laga Industries Ltd. – Securing a Future
On 2nd July 2018, Paradise Company Ltd. acquired Laga Industries Ltd. from Steamships Trading Company, securing Laga’s future with 100% local ownership in Papua New Guinea.
2021 – Nambawan Super Limited Takes the Helm – A New Chapter
In June 2021, Nambawan Super Limited became the sole owner of Paradise Company Limited, representing 3% (K258 million) of the fund’s investment. As the economy improves, we anticipate the performance of the company will also improve.
2023 – Laga Industries Amalgamates into Paradise Foods Limited
In 2023, Laga Industries completed its merger with Paradise Foods Limited, marking a significant milestone for the company.
We take pride in our rich history, and it has shaped us into the company we are today. We remain dedicated to delivering high-quality products, fostering community growth, and contributing to the prosperity of Papua New Guinea.
Incorporating Paradise Foods Ltd and Laga Industries Ltd
Anthony Smaré has a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Applied Science (Geology) from the Queensland University of Technology, has studied leadership at Harvard University and Oxford University and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a former partner of Allens Arthur Robinson lawyers specialising in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and natural resources law, practicing in Papua New Guinea and Australia. In 2021 Mr Smaré became the Mining, Oil and Gas industry’s first non-affiliated President of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum. He is also Chairman of the Kumul Foundation Inc. and founder of the Kumul GameChangers Entrepreneurship Initiative.
Neil O’Hare is an Independent Director experienced and formally trained (B.Bus Acc (QUT), MBA Int Bus (Monash), FCPA, FGIA) in Engineering, Accounting and Commerce. Formerly Neil was appointed Group General Manager of Mercer Stainless (NZSX), a company that specialises in the design, manufacture and maintenance of bulk material, materials handling and mineral process equipment in the mining and food processing industries. In recent times, Neil has provided consultant and advisory services to wide range of businesses within various industries including food, mineral processing, engineering and education services.
George Panao is an Independent Director and currently Head of External Affairs at British American Tobacco PNG. George is an Accountant by background and has held senior positions in Marketing and Corporate Affairs. George is a director of the Manufacturers Council of PNG. George runs a consulting firm advising on energy efficiency and means of tracking and reducing energy usage in organizations. In a private capacity, George sits on a number of advisory boards of private organizations and advises micro, small to medium enterprises on company strategies, governance and compliance, company law and taxation. George acts as a mentor and coach for many young professionals in PNG. George’s qualifications include BA Commerce (PNG), MBA (Armidale, NSW) and CPA Australia and PNG.
Chetan Chopra is an Independent Director being an entrepreneurial and driven CFO, with over 35 years of leading industry experience in managing and building global and domestic corporations in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Chetan held the CFO roles at Kina Securities Ltd. and Nambawan Super Ltd. Chetan display’s proven corporate and financial skills supported by extensive networks, professional relationships and business partnerships built globally and in PNG.
Chetan’s qualifications include BSc (Mumbai), MBA (Melbourne), CPA (Aust) and is also a Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and PNG Institute of Directors respectively.