Vic Govt to assist Kagome $21m expansion

Kagome Australia’s $21 million expansion of its Echuca operations will receive support from the Victorian Government. The expansion will replace 7000 tonnes of imported tomato paste - $6.5 million worth - with locally grown product.

Expected to create 20 new jobs, the expansion also includes a new wastewater treatment plant, a carrot-concentrate production line and a new pouch-packaging facility. The carrot-concentrate operation will produce a new counter-seasonal product line.

“Many Australian tomato and vegetable processors such as Rosella and Windsor Farms have been forced to shut their doors in the past two years, largely due to skyrocketing imports, so to see a vegetable processor in Australia expanding its operations is exciting news for the industry,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Hugh Gurney.

“We are excited with the prospect of being ‘paddock to plate’ capable,” said Kagome Australia CEO John Brady. “We harvest more than 2500 Ha in Victoria and are proud to partner with local tomato growers and landowners.

“The Kagome Group chose Victoria because of its capabilities and reputation of being one of the best, safe food suppliers in the world.”

According to AUSVEG, a significant proportion of Kagome’s carrot concentrate will be exported to markets in Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

“It is exciting to see that Kagome has identified overseas markets for some of this Australian-grown product, as the Australian vegetable industry is actively pursuing export opportunities,” Gurney said.

“Expanding our vegetable export markets will help guarantee the future of the Australian vegetable-growing industry and allow for Australian-based growers and processors such as Kagome to expand their operations with confidence.”