$17m food manufacturing hub opens on the Central Coast

Three businesses have already signed on to operate at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub, which was officially opened on 10 July 2026. The purpose-built, shared facility at Ourimbah is designed to provide small- to medium-sized food and beverage businesses on the Central Coast with the equipment, space and expertise to grow production locally — including a pilot plant and dedicated food and beverage manufacturing spaces.

The hub is an initiative of Central Coast Industry Connect (CCIC), and is backed by a $17.14 million investment from the Australian Government. It will provide small and medium food and beverage manufacturer with access to shared commercial production facilities and equipment, industry expertise and specialist support to help businesses grow and innovate. By lowering the cost and risk of expansion, it is expected to support the growth of the Central Coast’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Broader benefits of the hub include:

• strengthening links between industry and research by helping businesses develop, test and commercialise new products more efficiently;
• supporting workforce development, collaboration and innovation across the sector;
• supporting economic development on the NSW Central Coast; and
• helping food manufacturers bring new products to market faster and expand into new opportunities.
   

“The Hub represents years of vision, partnership and persistence, and is a major step forward for our $2 billion food and beverage manufacturing sector on the Central Coast,” said Frank Sammut, CCIC Executive Director.

Major manufacturers such as Mars Food and Nutrition, Sanitarium and Sara Lee are all based near the hub, reflecting the strength of manufacturing on the Central Coast. The hub’s shared facilities, programs and expertise are designed to help more businesses innovate, develop their workforce and grow, keeping manufacturing activity, and the jobs that come with it, in the region.

Ian Hemphill, CCIC Board Chair, said: “For Central Coast Industry Connect, the Hub is a physical home and the start of a new chapter for our industry partners and other stakeholders. Its success will be built on how well we turn collaboration into outcomes for the manufacturing sector and our community.”

The initiative supports the Australian Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda by:

• strengthening domestic manufacturing capability;
• building more resilient supply chains; and
• helping businesses create greater value from Australian-grown products.
   

CCIC will operate the hub in line with its vision for “a vibrant, connected and innovative manufacturing sector that provides sustained employment and sector growth, now and into the future, for our community”.

Image credit: CCIC