Page 6 - Food & Drink Magazine July 2018

NEWS
$26m mozzarella plant takes aim at Asia
BESTON Global Food Company has commissioned a new $26.5 million mozzarella plant in South Australia that is one of the most advanced of its type in Australia.
The facility uses adjustable steam injection technology and is currently producing 500 tonnes per month, and has the capacity to produce up to 14,500 tonnes of mozzarella a year.
The company hopes to capitalise on Asia’s booming
pizza market, and it has received export
accreditation for the cheese, which will be marketed
under the company’s Edwards
Crossing brand.
The plant is located in the
South Australian cheese-producing
region of Jervois. Beston Global Foods also
owns a cheese facility in nearby Murray Bridge where it makes cheddar, gouda, colby, pepato and romano cheeses.
Beston also supplies cheddar and gouda cheeses to Asia, and sends cheese to Singapore for processing into the fruit- flavoured Kyubu cheese, which is distributed through China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
Last year, the South Australian cheese company took out an award for the Best Cheddar in Australia at the DIAA Awards.
At the time it flagged plans to commence production of parmesan and mozzarella as part of its expansion strategy,
The company also recently released a new adult cheese snacking product called Fancy Bites, which will be sold under the Edwards Crossing premium cheese brand and will be supplied to 700 Woolworths stores. ✷
Beerenberg opens multimillion-dollar factory
JAM and sauce maker Beerenberg has opened a 6500 square-metre factory as part of a $14 million-plus transformation over three years.
Other changes have included the addition of new offices and a warehouse on land that the Paech family has farmed
since 1839.
The new factory, in the Adelaide Hills, was opened last month by Beerenberg managing director Anthony Paech, who said new equipment would allow it to increase production capacity past 15 tonnes of product in an eight-hour shift.
Paech said the new line, which is expected to double capacity, would handle 60,000 bottles in a shift and is a mix of old and new equipment.
It was designed and built by a team from Beerenberg in partnership with packaging equipment manufacturer Recopak, which is based
in Cobram, Victoria. Recopak’s involvement
comprised the supply of 12 new items of machinery, four relocated machines, more than 150 metres of conveyor, and a complete line control system comprising three zones, each with colour-touch panels for operator interface.
Other additions include two DC Norris cooking kettles, manufactured in England, which allow control of batch temperature and weight, and
faster turnaround time between batches, according to Paech.
Beerenberg’s 75 products are available in 24 countries, including Singapore, China and Japan, and can be found on major airlines and in more than 300 hotels globally.
The new facility enables more control over cooking and bottling, allowing Beerenberg to craft a higher quality of product in larger volumes. ✷
Petfood industry in the spotlight
A parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s $4 billion pet food industry has been given the go ahead following a recent dog food recall and a series of reports that plastic, metal, and mould have been found in some pet foods.
Mars Petcare, which was implicated in a recent spate of dog illnesses, has reportedly voiced its support for Australian pet food regulation.
Although Mars Petcare said at the time that it had not found a link between the debilitating condition, the company recalled the product in March.
Mars Petcare now says it supports the introduction of regulation that would strengthen the industry and achieve the best for pets, according to ABC Online.
In 2012, a review into the pet food industry was launched after a number of cats and dogs
has voiced his support for an inquiry, said he wrote to all of Australia’s states and territories on 7 May this year asking them to consider regulating the industry, and Queensland, Tasmanian and South Australian ministers agreed.
“Having a pet die is an absolutely terrible thing. It can be like losing a family member,” the minister said.
“The thought of those dogs in pain or dying is unacceptable.”
“I’ve asked the states and territories to join with me in reviewing the appropriateness of the current approach.
“I welcome the inquiry into the industry and call on Labor to support it. Let’s shine a light in. Scrutiny is only ever a good thing. I look forward to the recommendations.” ✷
Mars Petcare’s Advance
Dermocare dry dog food
was linked to dozens
of cases of
megaesophagus, self-regulation
a syndrome
that affects the
normal
function of the
oesophagus David
in dogs. Littleproud, who
become ill from eating pet food, and at the time
it was decided that
was the right model.
Minister for Agriculture
6 | Food&Drink business | July 2018 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au