The long-standing partnership between Grainli® and Riordan Grain highlights how trust, shared values, and a global mindset can create enduring success in international trade. Since initiating our collaboration in 2005 through Hamburg’s grain trade networks and Evergrain, now Grainli®, we have developed a strong cross-continental partnership.
Riordan Grain, founded in 1996 by Jim Riordan with just one truck, has grown into Australia’s largest privately owned grain logistics company. Today, the company manages the full supply chain across Australia and is a key exporter of malting barley, canola, milling wheat, and pulses to major markets in Southeast Asia, South America, Japan, Bangladesh, and the Indian subcontinent.
This partnership reflects Grainli®’s dedication to building global reliable supply chains that ensure continuous access to essential raw materials – from local to global sources. Our partnership is built on mutual respect and complementary capabilities. “It’s special because we trust each other,” says Jim Riordan. “We are able to complement what each other does, and each business has different functions within the marketplace.” This trust has translated into practical benefits for both sides, with Grainli® providing market intelligence and commercial trends in Europe that enable Riordan to better manage risk and offer competitive options to customers. As Mark Lewis, Chief Commercial Officer at Riordan, explains, “Grainli® assists us to succeed in our market here in Australia. Their in-market knowledge helps us manage our own exposures and strengthens our ability to deliver.”
The strength of this partnership also demonstrates Grainli´s commitment to being your trusted partner, focusing on understanding the challenges of our counterparts and offering smart and effective solutions. Our collaboration with Riordan is guided by a shared emphasis on reliability, transparency, and long-term success. Moreover, the partnership contributes to a diverse and expanding portfolio. With Riordan’s role as a major exporter of Australian grains and Grainli®’s active presence in the brewing and pet food industries, we together serve a wide range of global markets with a continually growing selection of high-quality, globally sourced ingredients.
What also makes this partnership unique is the alignment in business philosophy. We both emphasize the importance of long-term relationships, reliability, and continuous improvement. “We have a similar ethos and view on relationships,” Lewis says. “The common interests and sharing of information are what make this collaboration truly valuable.” This shared mindset reflects our mutual commitment to smart solutions. Both companies are committed to quality, adaptability, and evolving with changing market needs. As global trade faces new challenges, we believe that those who embrace innovation and align with customer trends will continue to thrive.
This spirit of trust and mutual learning is also reflected on a personal level. Eliza Riordan, daughter of company founder Jim Riordan, is currently working as a trainee at Grainli®, focusing on the pet food division within the commercial and logistics teams. Her year in Germany, which grew out of a university placement and personal initiative, is not only an investment in the next generation but also a testament to the openness and confidence that defines this partnership. “It was scary coming to a country where English isn’t the first language,” Eliza admits, “but everyone at Grainli® has made it a comfortable and welcoming place to live and work.”
As global trade faces new challenges, the Grainli®–Riordan partnership stands as a strong example of how collaboration, trust and shared vision can create lasting impact.
Looking ahead, Grainli® sees continued opportunities for partnerships built on shared values such as never-resting entrepreneurship, a passion for performance, and a focus on specialized supply chains. “The sustainability drive across soft commodities will support businesses that offer competitive, niche-market solutions,” says Mark Lewis. “There will always be room for volume-based supply chains to drive efficiency, but those who can innovate and align with customer and market trends will continue to thrive.” These types of international partnerships will be key to driving progress and resilience in the global agricultural trade.
Australia plays a key role in the global malting barley market. It is the second-largest exporter of barley worldwide and the largest supplier to China, the world’s biggest import market. Thanks to its geographic location, Australia also serves a range of Asian markets. Each season, approximately 75 percent of the country’s 10 million-ton barley crop is exported to global destinations, while the remainder is retained within the region based on local demand.
This enduring partnership between Grainli® and Riordan Grain shows how shared values, global perspective and genuine collaboration can turn distance into strength and opportunity into lasting impact.
