Milk maker Parmalat will spend $12 million to upgrade its facility in the Adelaide suburb of Clarence Gardens.
The company’s Australian chief executive Craig Garvin said its investment shows the company’s commitment to South Australia, which he believes is important in light of the recent wave of manufacturers exiting the state.
“These new capital expenditure investments will allow Parmalat to significantly increase production in the state, including state-of-the-art machinery for our flavoured milk brands, which will ultimately see us sourcing more milk from SA dairies,” Garvin told Newscorp.
According to Garvin, the installation of a new processor has also allowed the facility to start exporting three fresh milk brands from SA to China.
Parmalat, which manufactures brands such as Pauls Milk, Ice Break Iced Coffee, Vaalia yoghurt, Oak and Breaka flavoured milk, was earlier this year involved in a contracted industrial dispute.
In January, workers at the company’s Echuca facility who were planning industrial action arrived at work to find they were locked out. The lockout, which lasted for 60 days was resolved following negotiations between the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and management.