KAPCO: Western Australia's Indigenous Cattle Company

Published on Jun. 29, 2026
5 - Min

The Landscape/Challenge

In 2025, Sodexo Australia (Sodexo) identified an opportunity to strengthen Indigenous participation within its food supply chain while supporting regional economic activity in Northern Australia.

That opportunity emerged through Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company (KAPCO), a 100% Indigenous-owned and managed cattle company operating across four pastoral stations in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

KAPCO’s journey reflects generations of perseverance. Established in 2015 with around 5,000 head of cattle, the business has since grown to a herd of 40,000, with more than 70% of its workforce identifying as Indigenous. Built by Traditional Owners on their own Country, KAPCO represents a long-term vision of Indigenous ownership and self-determination within the pastoral industry.

While the alignment between Sodexo and KAPCO was clear, integrating a new supplier into a global food services operation required careful planning. Food safety compliance, processing capability, logistics, and supply continuity all needed to meet Sodexo’s global quality standards and operational requirements.

Partnership in Action

After reading about KAPCO in the Indigenous Business Review, one of Sodexo’s Supply Management team members reached out directly to the business. Within days, discussions were underway to explore how KAPCO beef could become part of Sodexo’s supply chain.

Sodexo worked closely with KAPCO and its supply partners to guarantee all food safety requirements were met before the first order was placed. Sodexo began purchasing KAPCO beef in August 2025.

The partnership also extended beyond direct procurement. Sodexo introduced KAPCO to Thomas Foods International, Sodexo’s primary meat processor and supplier, creating access to a larger and more stable customer network. This strengthened KAPCO’s long-term supply chain capabilities while enabling Sodexo to purchase KAPCO products through an established second-tier supply arrangement.

Robert Watson, Director and former Chairman at KAPCO, said, "Sodexo's support is an important milestone as it has helped build commercial partnerships that are creating genuine opportunities. KAPCO Beef stands on the quality and flavour of the product, but having partners like Sodexo and Thomas Foods behind us makes a real difference. We're excited to be part of that paddock-to-plate story, and seeing our beef on miners' plates is something we are proud of."

Operationally, the partnership also made logistical sense. KAPCO beef is processed through Rum Jungle abattoir in the Northern Territory, close to both the Kimberley stations and Shell Prelude’s Darwin supply base, helping support regional supply chains and reduce transport distances.

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Results

In under 12 months, Sodexo has spent more than $100k with KAPCO, with its beef now being served to resource workers in one of the world’s most remote offshore operations.

The partnership has helped embed a 100% Indigenous-owned supplier into a complex, high-standard food services environment while supporting economic participation in Northern Australia.

For KAPCO, the relationship has created greater supply certainty and opened new pathways for growth through broader industry connections. For Sodexo, it demonstrates how procurement can create meaningful impact while still meeting operational, culinary, and quality expectations at scale.

More broadly, the partnership reflects a practical example of Indigenous business participation being integrated into everyday operations as part of a long-term supply chain approach, rather than a standalone initiative.

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About Sodexo’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Sodexo Australia’s vision for reconciliation is to create lasting, positive change by embedding those values into every aspect of our work, from how we hire and partner, to how we learn and lead.

Our reconciliation journey began in 2011 and continues to evolve with our 2025 - 2028 (Stretch) RAP. It’s a shared commitment to listening, learning and collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, empowered business partnerships, and thriving communities. It provides a clear framework for our actions and contributions toward a more inclusive and equitable Australia.

We’ve invested over $100 million with more than 50 Indigenous-owned businesses, demonstrating our continued dedication to supplier diversity and economic empowerment. Beyond financial impact, we focus on building strong, lasting partnerships with Indigenous businesses, creating positive ripple effects for communities, particularly in regional and remote Australia.

Sodexo Australia’s latest RAP is committed to addressing food security and amplifying our deepening respect for cultural learning, building Indigenous talent and development programs, community-led engagements, and elevating partnerships with diverse Indigenous businesses. Learn more about our RAP here.