More than 40 jobs are being created as part of an expansion of GrainCorp Foods’ operations in West Footscray.
The processing plant upgrade, being undertaken by food manufacturing specialist Wiley, will also help GrainCorp cut carbon emissions.
GrainCorp will move its Queensland processing and packing operations to West Footscray and Numurkah, in country Victoria, creating 44 direct and up to 400 indirect jobs while cutting trucking travel by 550,000 kilometres a year.
Wiley business operations director Simon Spittle said ceasing the use of coal-fired equipment to generate steam at the Murrarie plant in Queensland would cut carbon emissions by about 25,000 tonnes a year.
“GrainCorp’s investment in its West Footscray and Numurkah sites will eliminate the need for the coal-fired equipment, providing GrainCorp the opportunity to invest in more efficient and environmentally sustainable technology,” he said.
The expanded West Footscray processing plant will have the capacity to produce spreads, bakery fats and shortenings.
GrainCorp Oils group general manager Sam Tainsh said the project was a logical step in sourcing, crushing, refining and distributing locally produced edible oils and food ingredients.
