Where the Magic Happens: Behind the Scenes at Leggo's

Echuca, nestled alongside the Murray River in Victoria, is best known for its charming paddle steamers, but its real claim to fame is as the production headquarters of quality crushed tomato, sauces and pastes that would make Nonna proud. The location is no accident. Echuca is the perfect place for cultivating healthy Australian tomatoes that burst with flavour. With hot sunny days, good rainfall, fertile and free draining soil, the region is a tomato grower’s dream.

A Legacy Rooted in Passion

Leggo’s story is one of heritage and dedication that began during the goldrush, in 1882, when Henry Leggo began making the now famous tomato products in Bendigo to sell to miners. The company moved to Echuca in 1977 to be closer to its first choice in sun-ripened Australian tomatoes, and it’s Echuca factory now processes 50,000 tonnes of tomatoes each year. Naturally sweet and robust tomatoes are the key ingredient of Leggo’s sauces and pastes, so being close to local growers shortens the time between the vine and the bottle, cans, plastic tub or squeezy bottle, sealing in the freshness.

Crafting Perfection: The Production Process

However, it’s inside the factory that the magic happens. When the tomatoes arrive, they are carefully inspected for quality, ensuring only the best are used. Once washed, they go through a carefully choreographed production process where each step is pivotal in preserving the tomatoes' inherent flavour when crafting the rich, vibrant products Leggo’s is celebrated for. Tomatoes destined to become part of the pasta sauce range, including Napoli, Stir Through, Chunky and Pasta Bakes, are cooked and simmered to the required consistency with Leggo’s signature spices added to create their distinctive flavours.

Consistency and Quality

For chefs, consistency is key, and Leggo’s understands this better than anyone. Rigorous quality checks and state-of-the-art techniques ensure that every can of Leggo’s Tomato Paste, Crushed Tomatoes, or Napoli Sauce meets its high standards. The factory is proud to employ more than 150 people, and has evolved over the years to embrace modern techniques while staying true to traditional values. This includes a commitment to reducing its environment impact – ensuring at least 30 per cent of the glass jars are created from recycled material and both the jars and the metal lids are recyclable.