THE managing director and owner of Riverland West citrus packer and exporter Lochert Bros has been inducted into Citrus Australia’s Hall of Fame. 

Robert Lochert, 79, was recognised for his services to the citrus industry during the Citrus Australia’s Technical Forum at Maroochydore, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland last month. 

He started working for the family company 64 years ago, when his father Enil was running the company, established in 1938.

Mr Lochert said he was honoured to be installed into the citrus industry hall of fame. He said Lochert Bros’ general manager Peter Kuchel, who has worked at the company for 48 years, contributed to the award.

“I don’t give myself the credit, we have had lots of loyal staff, it has been a team effort all the way and Peter has worked here since he left school,” Mr Lochert said.

“I have been a packer most of my life and it is only 12 years ago that I bought my own citrus property.”

Mr Lochert and his family’s focus has been to support Riverland citrus growers in the packing and exporting of oranges.

“We have always been packers for other growers,” he said.

Mr Lochert and his brothers John and Russell established a juice processing company, Crusta Fruit Juices in 1971, which was sold to Coco-Cola Amatil in 2004.

The Ramco company bought back the juice factory in 2018, but not the Crusta brand name nor the Crusta Fruit Juices Company.

Mr Lochert said it now processes orange juice in bulk for Renmark-based beverage company Charlie’s Drinks, plus a small WA company. 

“There was no business left when we bought it back,” Mr Lochert said. 

The orange juice is pasteurised and chilled, then stored in bulk in a cool room at Lochert Brothers. Mr Lochert said the business also supplied oranges from local growers to Charlie’s Drinks for juicing.

“They package and bottle juice, but they haven’t got a production facility,” he said.

“They mainly source their fruit and bulk juice from us.”

Potatoes, onions and frozen stone fruit are stored for various clients in the Ramco-based cold rooms and freezers. 

Lochert Bros also reconstitute tartaric acid for a company that supplies the wine industry. In addition, it has an express freight division, Sprint Freight and Logistics.

Mr Lochert said these days his role as managing director of Lochert Bros was more as a coach than a player. 

“I don’t spend as much time there as I used to,” he said.