Harvey Fresh recently expanded its dairy activities and UHT capacity and won the Coles private label milk contract for WA.

NQF's processing business based at Hanwood, near Griffith, is the southern hemisphere's largest manufacturer of niche juice products exported to Asia.

Its high-tech juice business processes up to 70,000 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetable juice and concentrates each year.

NQF is part of the family-run Nugan Group, operated by Michelle Nugan and her children Matthew and Tiffany, generates annual turnover of more than of $80 million.

The Nugan company includes the Nugan Griffith fruit packing business founded in 1940, one of Australia's Top 20 wine exporters, Nugan Estate, an olive oil venture and a Griffith restaurant.

The family retains full ownership of its other business interests including the winery which will now be a key focus of its future activities.

The juice operation, which has had close supply ties with Harvey Fresh, was established in 1974 and now has more than 12,000 square metres of production and cool room facilities.

Mrs Nugan was left to take over its management after the death of her husband Ken from cancer in 1986 and has received numerous business accolades for turning the Nugan Group into an agribusiness success story.

She will remain a consultant to NQF.

"Harvey Fresh has had a long association with NQF and we greatly respect what Michelle Nugan has achieved in building such a significant national and international business," said Harvey Fresh principal, John Scolaro.

His company started processing juice at Harvey, south of Perth, in 1986 and today runs a juice plant, a dairy factory and a winery for the Harvey River Bridge Estate and Joseph River labels.

"The NQF acquisition provides a perfect growth opportunity for Harvey Fresh in line with our strategy, particularly through selling juice concentrates into growth markets in south east Asia," Mr Scolaro said.

In acknowledging the importance of the juice business to her family, Michelle Nugan said NQF had been the focus of her life for many years "but the time came to step back from the day-to-day operation and ownership".

"Importantly, all our staff, customers and supplier contracts will be retained and the business can look at growing with the expertise Harvey Fresh can bring," she said.

"I'm delighted NQF has been acquired by another family-owned business, and I look forward to supporting its ongoing success."

The sale price for NQF has not been disclosed.