SPC announces new SPC Care business, focussing on food for aged care

Food Group SPC has announced a new nutritional health care business in response to the Royal Commission into aged care.

SPC Care will make products for older and infirm Australians, and those with “diverse nutritional needs,” with plans to also provide training and education to carers about nutritional standards and food’s role in well-being.

“We are determined to take leadership of this important issue by establishing a dedicated company focused on improving nutrition for the older population living both in care facilities and at home,” said SPC chair Hussein Rifai in a statement, adding that “positive action” was needed.

“Currently more than 15 per cent of Australians are 65 years or older and this number is expected to grow to 19.9 per cent by 2058. Many industrial countries around the world are experiencing [a] similar demographic shift in the age of their population.”

“We are expanding our offering through meal solutions that address special nutritional requirements,” added Bree Vidovich, SPC Chief Commercial Officer.

“As an example, we are making food products easy to open for people that suffer from arthritis and other meal solutions that cater for people with health issues, including dysphagia, diabetes and gluten intolerance.”

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found two out of three in aged care were malnourished or at risk of this. The federal government responded to this by increasing the Basic Daily Fee paid for residents by $10 in the Federal Budget last week.

SPC said it had established nutritional expertise and R&D in fruit-based snack and beverage solutions through the ProVital brand, nutritious specialised meal solutions through The Kuisine Company, and home-delivered meals through The Good Meal Company.

SPC is privately-owned and divested from former owners Coca-Cola Amatil in mid-2019.

Picture: SPC

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