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Fonterra Australia secures government grant to expand production at Stanhope site

Fonterra Australia will be investing $6m into its Northern Victorian site of Stanhope to support the manufacture of a ricotta cheese processing facility with additional help from a Victorian state government grant worth $250,000

The state government’s grant which comes under the Industries for Today and Tomorrow program, is designed to support manufacturing investment in regional Victoria.

Deputy Premier of Victoria, Peter Ryan MLA, announced the grant this morning at the Stanhope site, stating that the investment will include new cheese making, processing and packaging equipment.

The expansion of the site will create six new jobs and is part of a plan to transfer production from Fonterra’s Cororoohe site which is due to close early next year.

“This is a great example of Government and industry working together to ensure we deliver on the global opportunities for dairy. By focusing Stanhope’s production on high-value products, like ricotta cheese, we are able to increase the site’s productivity, efficiency and competitiveness,” said Judith Swales, managing director of Fonterra Australia.

“This investment will help ‘future-proof’ the Stanhope site and strengthen our presence in northern Victoria. It is another step towards achieving our goal of having the most competitive and sustainable dairy supply chain in Australia.”

The Cororooke site will continue to make ricotta until April 2014, with the rest of the site (which includes shredded cheese, cream and blending and packing functions) due to close in October.

 

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