State-of-the-art freeze drying facility opens in QLD
Sunshine Coast Mayor , Mark Jamieson, Freeze Dry CEO Michael Buckly and 'Food and Agricbusness Network General Manager Emma Greenhatch
A new major freeze-drying manufacturing facility has opened on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Owned and operated by Freeze Dry Industries, the site will use the latest technology to freeze dry Australia fruit, vegetables and other raw materials.
Chief Executive Officer of Freeze Dry Industries, Michael Buckley, said the new facility is a significant step for the company.
“The official opening today of our new facility is a huge step for us, something that I’ve been looking forward to over the past 12 months,” he said.
The site will create freeze-dried products for its recently opened retail arm, SunLife, and Freeze Dry industries hopes to begin exporting to Japan.
The company has also been exploring how to freeze dry food scraps like plum skins and pineapple cores to stop them from going to waste.
“It gives us the chance to turn something that would traditionally be thrown out into a potential superfood,” Buckley said.
Call for food companies to set up on the Sunshine Coast
There are a number of food manufacturing facilities now located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, including COYO coconut yoghurt, Gourmet Garden, The Happy Snack Company and the Country Chef.
Sunshine Coast Mayor, Mark Jamison, said he encourages more food players to set up in the region.
“The food and agribusiness industry is one of the seven high-value industries identified in our Regional Economic Development Strategy, and currently contributes more than $670 million to our local economy, with significant growth seen in the region’s food processing sector,” he said.
Buckley said when choosing a location for Freeze Dry Industries he wanted to choose somewhere appealing to live and a location with talent, plus connection to a major city via road and rail.
“The Sunshine Coast provided all of this and much much more,” Buckley said.
“We’ve been able to take advantage of the support of Sunshine Coast Council and in particular the local Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) which has connected us with a range of highly experienced people in the food and agribusiness industry,” he said.
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