Qld food manufacturer beefs up operations

Queensland food manufacturer Keppel Brand plans to use its $372,148 grant from the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program to purchase food processing and packaging equipment to expand its product offering. The company has been a food manufacturer for more than 30 years, distributing convenience hot box food products to over 18,000 food outlet customers around the nation.

“This new equipment will set up Keppel Brand to develop a new range of coated beef products for the Australian and export food service and retail markets. The equipment will also modernise the company’s existing manufacturing processes, making them more competitive and delivering more consistent products,” said Glenn Butcher, Queensland’s Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing.

The new product range will enable Keppel Brand to expand into more markets including retail markets interstate and internationally, creating six new local jobs. This could also lead to further employment opportunities if the new lines are successful in the market.

The $13.5 million Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program supports the regional manufacturing sector to implement and provide leading technologies, processes and practices.

“Grants of between $5000 and $1 million are available for eligible businesses to help build their manufacturing capabilities through technology adoption, skills and training business development as well as services through the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub,” Butcher said.

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