Food industry an 'economic powerhouse' in Northern Victoria

According to latest research released by the Australian Food and Grocery Council, Northern Victoria has generated $9.23 billion in output per year and employs 14,221 Victorians.

Food and grocery manufacturing employers in Northern Victoria range from major global companies such as Fonterra, Nestlé, Unilever and George Weston Foods, through to Australian brands such as Beechworth Honey as well as smaller craft operators.

Food and grocery processing in Northern Victoria is now the second-largest contributor in terms of output and the eighth largest employer across four Northern Victorian electorates: Mallee, Bendigo, Indi and Nicholls.

Australian Food & Grocery Council CEO Tanya Barden said that as the population continues to increase in Northern Victoria, food and grocery processing will continue to provide important jobs growth and investment in the region.

“The sector relies heavily on local supply chains, purchasing $3.36 billion in goods and services from within the region,” said Barden, adding that “Australians should be proud of their food manufacturing sector as a driver of jobs growth.”

Data regarding the performance of Northern Victoria’s Commonwealth electorate over 2018 is provided below, in Table 1.

Table 1. Click here for a larger image.

The report details that wages and salaries from the food and grocery sector provide $1.3 billion annually into the Northern Victorian economy, worth an average of $79,000 for every full-time and part-time worker. The sector contributes $9.23 billion in annual output and $1.76 billion in international exports, as indicated below in Table 2.

Table 2. Click here for a larger image.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/alfexe