Farmfresh Fine Foods, a Bundaberg fresh food processor, will expand its facilities to enhance its production and packaging capabilities through support from the Queensland government.
This project will help Farmfresh Fine Foods fight back against frozen imports and create an estimated 24 local jobs.
“The Queensland government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund will help Farmfresh Fine Foods put the bite on frozen food imports,” deputy premier and minister for State Development Steven Miles said.
“We’re supporting a $4.3 million expansion of this family-owned Bundaberg success story, making them even more competitive when pursuing national supply contracts.”
The state government’s support will accelerate the company’s project by 12 to 18 months.
“The Queensland government funding means we’re ready to expand production capacity across all our products to 3,270 tonnes annually in the short term,” Farmfresh Fine Foods general manager Andrew Gerry said.
“This will include a new forming, battering and fry line which will add to the extensive range of roasted frozen products, as well as pureed and pickled vegetables.
“We’re planning to hire another 24 labourers and machinery operators by our second year of expanded operations, an increase of about 45 per cent to our current workforce of 53.
“This will be a very exciting new growth phase for us – and for Bundaberg and other regional growers.”
Bundaberg was becoming Australia’s sweet potato capital, but we still import the majority of our frozen sweet potato products, member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said.
“The expansion will allow Farmfresh Fine Foods to compete against importers who have been dominating the market for sweet potato products, as well as to expand their markets for other vegetable products including zucchini, capsicum and pumpkin and eggplant.
“The company will be able to increase automation, reduce costs and run additional production shifts, making it more competitive against frozen imports.
“Farmfresh Fine Foods is already a major ingredient supplier to national food retailer products, food service and quick-service restaurant chains, meal delivery companies and they will be better equipped to give their customers even more choice.”
Find out more about Farmfresh Fine Foods here.