| Having started in the steel industry at the age of 18 driving a forklift, Joe Calleja has built two major steel companies. A highly respected figure within the industry, he was the Chairman of the Australian Steel Association for eight years. After 15 years learning the trade, Joe persuaded his then employer, Heine Bros Steel, to back him in founding his own steel company. With $300k from Heine Bros, and $100k of his own capital, Joe single-handedly developed a new steel distribution business dealing purely in imported steel. Less than a year later, Impact Steel was trading so well that, with the backing of Heine Bros, Joe was able to acquire Parry Steel. Despite the recession in the early ‘90s, Joe grew Impact Steel strongly and, in 1996, he sold the company to Email who locked him into a non-compete contract. Unable to re-enter the steel distribution industry, Joe moved into steel roofing, purchasing a struggling Carrum Downs business called Apex in 1997. As soon as Joe’s non-compete contract ended, Apex diversified into steel distribution and began to grow aggressively, acquiring United Steel in 2002 and Horan Steel from Wesfarmers in a 50:50 partnership with New Zealand based Vulcan Steel in 2003. Today, Apex and Horan continue to deliver strong revenue and profit growth, thanks to Joe’s ability to negotiate favourable supply contracts and generate strong customer relationships. Furthermore, Joe has recently secured a rare and lucrative Bluescope distribution franchise arrangement for Apex. This agreement, 19 years in the making, will give the group access to significantly discounted inputs, providing the flexibility to dual source from a local company as well as existing international suppliers. Joe also continues to pursue his successful foray into restaurants, which began through an introduction to renowned chef George Calombaris and led to their first collaboration, the Press Club in Melbourne, followed by other Melbourne establishments, the Maha Bar and Hellenic Republic. |
