One of Queensland’s biggest pig processors will shut today, with the KR Castlemaine factory closing down in Toowoomba. The 98-year-old abattoir was acquired by George Weston Foods’ subsidiary Don after their purchase of KR Castlemaine (now known as Don KRC). It has been closed due to persistent losses, with the factory reportedly making a loss of around $5 million last year and an expected $6 million this year. Toowoomba Historical Society president Maurice French told the ABC the closure... ...Read more »

Don KRC has received backing from the Victorian Government for their plan to boost plant capacity while reducing emissions. The Victorian Government said they were keen to support the major investment by Castlemaine’s largest employer, which will create 480 jobs and improve the town’s energy and water efficiency. The smallgoods subsidiary of George Weston Foods will receive a $3 million grant to drive an expansion worth over $150 million. “George Weston Foods is already a major... ...Read more »

A pioneering business community initiative is on-track to achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from four of the Castelmaine’s largest businesses by 2010. CSIRO has discovered that smallgoods manufacturer, Don KRC, could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while doubling production capacity; a key finding that could be beneficial to food producers across the country. Cited as a case study in the Garnaut Climate Change Review, the Maine’s Power project partnered CSIRO, local... ...Read more »

George Weston Foods, which owns smallgoods producer Don KRC, is no longer pursuing an acquisition of Hans Smallgoods. Australia’s largest smallgoods producer, Primo, and George Weston, whose Don, KR Castlemaine and Watsonia brands are prominent in the smallgoods sector, both sought approval from the ACCC to purchase Hans, but yesterday the ACCC terminated their review of George Weston’s request as the proposed purchase would “no longer proceed for commercial reasons”. Hans... ...Read more »

George Weston Foods, the owner of Don KRC, and Primo Smallgoods have signalled their intentions to purchase Hans Smallgoods. Hans went into voluntary administration in November, with the business operating as normal until an appropriate buyer is found by the administrators – KordaMentha. “Hans is a great brand and has some world class facilities, so our first aim will be to offer the business to buyers with related interests so that some synergies may be achieved,” Mark Mentha, from KordaMentha,... ...Read more »

Don KRC, a leading Australian smallgoods manufacturer, has announced a major restructure of manufacturing operations which will result in the closure of two factories. The company, a subsidiary of George Weston Foods, will end production at their factories in Altona (Vic) and Spearwood (WA) – resulting in all manufacturing being moved to an expanded Castlemaine site by 2010. There will be a progressive winding down of production at both the Altona and Spearwood facilities, with the West... ...Read more »