Confidence in crisis: Overcoming collateral damage after strawberry needle disaster

The Scurr family and their company Piñata Farms have invested substantial sums to develop some of Australia's most advanced strawberry operations, including high-tech hydroponic substrate farming, new varieties and even metal detectors in the packhouse.

But the latter was done to avoid stray rocks or jewellery, not needles like what has been seen with the brands Berry Obsession and Berry Licious due to a suspected case of sabotage.

The effects have been felt across an already struggling strawberry industry, and it could take a very long time before sales return to normal.

Almost any business could end up becoming collateral damage after an industry peer is hit by some kind of freak disaster, but such issues are more common in the agrifood sector. At Business News Australia we catch up with Piñata Farms managing director Gavin Scurr to gain some insight into how leaders can prepare for the unexpected and overcome challenges that are beyond their control. Read more

Matt Ogg - Business News Australia - 18 September 2018