Kerry plans to establish a food innovation hub in Qld
Kerry Group is planning to develop a purpose-built food technology and innovation centre in Queensland.
The Brisbane facility will act as the new headquarters for Kerry in Australia and New Zealand, while its existing facility in Sydney will retain a specialist research and development applications hub to complement the new facility.
With end-to-end capabilities including pilot plants, laboratories and tasting facilities, the centre will be designed to bring the end-to-end food innovation cycle under one roof reducing time to market for new product development and increasing food innovation in the region.
According to Christine Giuliano, General Manager, Kerry Australia and New Zealand, the facility will bring the benefits of its global technologies to local food and beverage producers. “Our team at the new centre will be able to leverage Kerry’s R&D network around the world, as well as global insights, market knowledge, and culinary and applications expertise to customise solutions that ultimately deliver exciting products that resonate with the local market.”
The food and beverage industry is Australia’s largest manufacturing sector and with an annual turnover of $50 billion it represents more than 18% of total domestic manufacturing turnover. Additionally, Food Innovation Australia Limited’s (FIAL) forecast for the global food and agribusiness market is between $8.8 trillion and $11.1 trillion by 2025.The major challenge identified by FIAL for the food and beverage industry is the ability for businesses to easily adapt and respond to rapidly evolving consumer needs and changing business and market conditions.
“This investment, which is supported by the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, will pave an economical and efficient path for commercialisation of new products and focus on Kerry’s global innovation initiatives in health and wellness, sustainability, convenience, affordability and premiumisation, allowing regional businesses to connect and access the global market by leveraging the Kerry brand,” Giuliano added.
The centre will also create ongoing employment opportunities for graduates through Kerry’s Graduate Programme via partnerships with local universities.
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