John West Tuna with Sweet Corn & Mayonnaise

Brand Heritage and Ownership

John West is a historic brand specializing in preserved fish, originally founded in 1857 by the eponymous John West in Oregon, United States. While the brand has global recognition, the ownership of the business is split by region. In the Australian and New Zealand markets, John West is managed under the Simplot brand portfolio.

Corporate Structure and Manufacturing

The ultimate owner of John West in the Oceanic region is Simplot Australia, a subsidiary of the J.R. Simplot Company, a major American multinational agricultural and food production corporation headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Simplot acquired the Australian business rights to John West in 2003.

While the brand is deeply rooted in Australian pantry culture, the majority of its canned tuna products are manufactured in Thailand. This is due to the close proximity to major tuna fishing grounds in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the presence of world-class processing facilities that meet strict Australian food safety and sustainability standards.