Coca-Cola Amatil has opened a new bottling and warehouse facility, which is now the company’s largest plant in Australia.
The facility, in Richlands, Queensland, was officially opened on the 2nd of October by Queensland’s premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The facility supports hundreds of jobs and it is capable of manufacturing more than 90 million unit cases of drinks for national and export markets each year.
“Queensland has gained an international reputation as a great place to do business which is why Coca-Cola Amatil has developed this $165 million vote of confidence in Queensland,” said Palaszczuk.
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“Queensland has low operating costs, a skilled and adaptable workforce, the lowest payroll tax in the nation, generous research and development incentives, excellent transport infrastructure close to Asia and other export links, and a dynamic and stable economy which is expected to reach three per cent growth this financial year.
“The manufacturing giants such as Coca-Cola Amatil are recognising all that’s great about Queensland and are attracted by what my Government is delivering to develop opportunities and grow the economy,” said Palaszczuk.
Coca-Cola Amatil group managing director, Alison Watkins, said the company was proud to be a local manufacturer, and to have headquartered so much of its production in the new facility in Richlands.
“This site is the product of a nationwide search for the best possible location to grow our business,” she said.
“Of all the sites we looked at, Richlands offered the strongest combination of road and port access, efficiency in production, access to east-coast markets and room to grow.
“We also had great engagement with the Queensland Government, which was keen to support manufacturing investment and jobs,” said Watkins.
Coca-Cola Amatil is also partnering with beverage manufacturer Lion to help deliver Queensland’s first container refund scheme.
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the scheme, known as Containers for Change, will help reduce waste, increase recycling, and create funding and employment opportunities.
“We are proud to have Coca-Cola Amatil on board with Lion to help drive the success of Containers for Change,” said Enoch.
The scheme begins on the 1st of November.