George Weston plans new Ballarat flour mill

George Weston Foods is investing $132.9 million building a new flour mill at Ballarat in regional Victoria as part of expansions in the state, which will create 220 jobs.

The investment, backed by the Victorian government, is part of a major expansion by the Australia and New Zealand business.

George Weston Foods’ new investments across Victoria include a new national Tip Top boutique bakery in Bendigo, relocating its Golden Crumpet manufacturing line from Adelaide to Dandenong, upgrading its Don KRC business in Castlemaine to grow exports and expanding its Yumi’s plant in Hallam to increase production.

As well as securing the company’s long-term future in Victoria, the expansion will also support more than 1,300 Victorian businesses and farmers who supply and work with George Weston Foods.

George Weston Foods Chief Executive Stuart Grainger said: “We are excited to be investing in the future of sustainable agriculture and food production in Victoria.

“This new flour mill, together with other investments, enables us to continue to grow our Tip Top, Abbotts, Don and Yumi’s brands whilst also being better able to serve the needs of our Mauri customers.”

Building the new, state-of-the art flour mill in the Ballarat West Employment Zone will create up to a further 320 jobs during construction.

The company will join many other successful regional food manufacturing businesses in the Ballarat West Employment Zone, including Kookas Country Cookies and Luv-a-duck.

George Weston Foods employs 3,000 staff across eight sites in Victoria and is one of the largest private sector employers in the state, with half of its workforce employed in regional Victoria.

Victoria has the largest and most established food and beverage manufacturing sector in the nation, valued at around $38 billion and employing around 72,000 people.

Minister for industry support Martin Pakula said: ‘’We’re supporting investments like this because they help strengthen the local supply chain and Victoria’s position as a leader in food manufacturing.

“A major company like George Weston Foods choosing to expand in Victoria will drive economic growth in our food manufacturing sector and create new jobs across the state.”

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