15/07/2025
It is with mixed emotions i write this. Happy for my father John Minutillo who has retired and has well earned a good rest. But also sadness that this journey that we have been on for 15 years has come to a close. On the 30th of June Fremantle Lobster received and packed its last Lobsters. We made the heart breaking decision to sell our beloved business. As we all know times are hard and costs are rising and our strong commitment to looking after our family of fishers was no longer sustainable. We decided to go out on our own terms and on a high!
Fremantle Lobster has prided itself on genuinely being For the fisherman! Paying above the award rates going around. But with costs of everything going up and Lobsters staying stagnant, the margins got lower and we could no longer deliver on our promise. We have made a collaborative deal with KB Foods to move our lobsters to them. KB are the Company that most aligns with our core values. Respect, integrity and honesty to the fisherman. 15 years as a business but dads 50 years in the industry as you can imagine there are many people to thank.
Firstly to our fisherman. You were never a number to us. You were our family. Thats why telling you the news was so hard. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyalty over the years. We will miss those stormy days when you drop by for a coffee. Thank you for being our extended family.
To my Aunty Sue and Unce Sav thank you for the years of service.
To all our employees and helpers over the years thank you!
To our loyal customers and restaurants thank you so much.
To my wife and mum thanks for your support and putting up with our moods and time away. Working all hours in the lead up to Christmas. Thank you.
And finally to Dad. I will write what I can't say.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication. The dream was to run this together with my son one day taking over from me. We didn't get there but we had a red hot crack. Thank you for being the greatest example a son could have of how to be a man and front up everyday no matter the adversity, no matter the hour, no matter the circumstance. You have, and always will be my greatest inspiration. I am so very proud of what you have done and continue to do for our family. I am even more proud to call you my dad. Enjoy you're retirement you deserve it. I look forward to what lies ahead, more days on the the golf course and more good times without the daily stress of looking after tonnes of Lobster.
This industry would be far better off if more people were like you.
Fremantle Lobster signing off 🙌 👌
