Category

Manufacturing

Boosting Food Manufacturing on the Central Coast

By | Manufacturing | No Comments

Press Release by Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Ed Husic and local MP Emma McBride.

An Albanese Labor Government will boost manufacturing jobs on the north end of the Central Coast by funding a Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub.

The Coast has a strong history of manufacturing, especially in food and beverage, but currently has no pilot facilities for product development.

As part of this commitment, Labor will invest $17.14 million to create a Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub on the Coast, which will be backed up by $37.5 million from industry.

It will be managed by not-for-profit manufacturing network, Central Coast Industry Connect (CCIC).

This will create 285 jobs, made up of 85 during construction and another 200 ongoing jobs in food product manufacturing.

This project has the full support of CCIC and their partners TrendPac, Regional Development Australia, and the University of Newcastle.

Local food manufacturers Sanitarium, Mars Food, Sara Lee, and Agrana are set to come on board as collaborators.

The Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub is strategically located near a unique mix of local and national food and beverage manufacturers and smaller artisan food producers.

The Hub will drive economic growth in the region and help the Coast expand its unique food and beverage market.

This investment is urgently needed to boost employment and create local jobs, given one in four people on the Coast commute outside the region for work every day.

With the Coast expected to grow its population by another 75,500 people by 2036, it is vital we create more jobs in the region to keep up with that growth.

Only a future Labor government will boost manufacturing jobs on the Coast, securing Australia’s supply chains and create more secure, well-paid jobs.

The hub will be based at Lisarow and will house a purpose-built facility designed to grow local food manufacturing businesses and attract more manufacturers to the region.

It will support small and medium food producers to scale up their business and create more jobs for the Coast, giving firms access to commercial production facilities.

Under the Coalition, Australia is dead last on manufacturing self-sufficiency. Labor will back local industry and help grow manufacturing jobs through our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund and Buy Australia Plan.

Attributable to Ed Husic:

“The Coalition has completely neglected to deliver good manufacturing jobs on the Central Coast. There’s huge potential here with industry ready to act yet the Coalition has never done the right thing by the Coast when it comes to manufacturing jobs. Labor is determined to reverse that with this investment. It’s thanks to Emma McBride’s advocacy that Labor will make this commitment today.”

 

Attributable to Emma McBride:

“The Central Coast has a proud history of food and beverage manufacturing. We produce premium products that are enjoyed here and around the world. The Coast needs proper investment to boost local manufacturing and secure more well-paid jobs for locals for the future.”

Local food industry leaders inspire budding Foodies

By | Manufacturing | No Comments

March saw further great examples of collaboration between Central Coast food Industry and local schools.

Ian ‘Herbie’ Hemphill, owner of Herbie’s Spices based at Charmhaven, joined Year 12 Food Technology students at St Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford for a wide-ranging discussion drawing on Ian’s passion for food and 50 years of food industry experience. Students were curious about areas of food industry research and development, quality assurance practices, sustainability initiatives, gender equity within the manufacturing sector and career opportunities offered by the food production sector on the Central Coast.

Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), Eliza Baird from Sanitarium’s Nutrition Insights team participated in her second workshop with local students, this time with Year 12 Food Technology students from St Edwards College, Gosford. Eliza shared insights and answered questions from students keen for an industry insider’s perspective on the product development process, nutritional profiles of pantry-favourite products and what it’s like to work in the food industry.

Anyone from local schools or industry keen to learn more or participate in similar sessions, should reach out to Jillian William, Senior Project Officer, Regional Industry Education Partnerships, Training Services NSW via

jillian.williams4@det.nsw.edu.au   

Jenney-Lee.Pye1@det.nsw.edu.au

 

 

https://centralcoastfoodalliance.com.au/wp-content/themes/salient/css/fonts/svg/ecommerce_diamond.svg

https://centralcoastfoodalliance.com.au/wp-content/themes/salient/css/fonts/svg/software_paintroller.svg

Cheesy smiles all round

By | Events, Manufacturing, News

Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy results for 2020 are out. Central Coast’s very own cheese factory, Little Creek Cheese, gained 1 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze awards, in what was a very competitive event.

A family owned and operated cheese factory has been winning awards every year for their handmade artisan cheeses. This year is no exception with 8 highly sought after awards out of 10 products entered.

Gold this year went to their club cheddar Cumin Seed, silver to Club Cheddar Peppercorn and Yoghurt Cheese Balls Garlic & Thyme ( Labna ). The other awards went to Club cheddar Fig & Walnut, Club Cheddar  Bacon, B.B.Q. Cheese ( Haloumi ), Marinated Goat Salad Cheese with Garlic & Dill ( Goat Fetta ) and Marinated Salad Cheese Aussie Bush.

“We are so proud of what we are producing right here at Wyong” stated Sue Parsons, cheesemaker and owner. Russell Parsons owner and cheesemaker said, “I still get amazed when locals visit us at our factory and say the didn’t know we are here.”,” We have been making award winning cheese less than hour from Sydney!”. Mr Parsons added “this is the way cheese should taste, we make it with passion and love”

The factory is open 10am to 4pm every day and has viewing windows to see where the magic happens. This year they have introduced bookable experiences to show off what they do.

Located within the Wyong Milk Factory, a must to visit.