Page 27 - Food & Drink Magazine October 2019

PLANT DESIGN & FITOUT
BELOW: Managing director Greig Smith showing Victoria’s jobs, innovation and trade minister Martin Pakula part of the new plant.
D’Orsogna’s $66m new facility
Smallgoods and meat producer D’Orsogna expects to double its production capacity at its new $66 million facility. Doris Prodanovic reports.
D’ORSOGNA’S new facility on Melbourne’s northern outskirts will “secure the future” of the smallgoods manufacturer, managing director Greig Smith said at its opening on 30 August.
The new 11,000 square metre facility replaces its “modest footprint” in Mt Waverley, which was established ten years ago.
Smith said the company had taken “a measured approach to such a substantial investment” but D’Orsogna was now “firmly established on the east coast”.
The new plant is in Mickleham and part of the new commercial precinct, Merrifield Business Park. The site will fulfill the company’s east coast cooking, smoking, cooling, storing, slicing and packaging needs.
Smith thanked the Victorian Government and City of Hume Council for their support and would show their thanks
with a “first class food manufacturing business that delivers environmentally, socially and financially”.
“Breaking new ground in business, even as a market leader, comes at considerable cost,” Smith says.
Once fully operational it is expected the facility will employ roughly 200 people, up from 55 atGlenWaverley.
D’Orsogna chairperson Tony Iannello says the productivity per square metre of floor space will be “leading edge”, allowing the company to be competitive and satisfy growing consumer demand for fresh, conveniently packaged, modern meat protein products.
“Proximity to major markets, streamlined manufacturing processes and state-of-the art equipment, all supported by well trained staff, a committed management
and board and supportive customers should ensure
its success,” says Iannello.
The D’Orsogna head office will remain at its Palmyra premises, near Freemantle, where it has been since 1973.
LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS
The facility incorporates
the latest energy and water conservation technology,
says Iannello, to “reflect our focus on sustainable and efficient processes to drive design and ultimately production efficiency”.
The facility also features 8500 square metres of rooftop solar, which powers a one-megawatt system and aims to reduce operational costs and carbon emissionsonsite. ✷
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