SPC Ardmona, which runs one of  Australia’s few remaining   fruit-processing plants and cannery, has received a significant boost from two Victorian Government grants. Victoria’s Deputy Premier Peter Ryan and Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade, Richard Dalla-Riva recently announced the approval to SPC Ardmona of grants of $3.9 million from the Victorian Government’s “Sustainable Process Development Project” as well as $500,000 for “New Product Development... ...Read more »

While the bad news for tomato-growers on Friday January 6, 2012 was that all Heinz tomato-sauce and ketchup ceased production in Australia, the big picture is that several massive investments in glasshouse tomatoes are creating opportunities for a new world-leading tomato industry in Australia. Many were disappointed by the Heinz closure of its Gigarre operation, which had been foreshadowed by Heinz  seven months earlier (as Australian Food News reported on May 27, 2011). Job loss concerns still... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has confirmed its decision y to close the SPC Ardmona (SPCA) plant in Mooroopna in a statement released today. The company will shift production of premium packaged fruit and vegetable products to its Shepparton and Kyabram facilities. CCA’s board met yesterday, August 8 2011, to discuss the future of the SPCA business. CCA’s Group Managing Director, Terry Davis, said that the decision to “right-size” the brand was a response to the high Australian dollar and increasing... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) may be preparing to bury the SPC Ardmona brand, reports the Weekly Times Now today. CCA’s board is due to meet on August 8 2011 to discuss the future of the brand. CCA’s managing director, Terry Davis, was quoted in the Weekly Times Now as saying that the review will determine the “right size of the food business”. The review might result in large job cuts at the SPC Ardmona plant in Mooroopna, which produces canned tomatoes, bulk-packed tomato pastes and crushed tomato... ...Read more »