Woolworths opens $31 million meat processing plant

Woolworths has opened a $31 million extension to its meat centre in Bunbury, Western Australia.

“The Bunbury Meat Centre is attached to a beef and lamb abattoir owned and operated by V&V Walsh. Having a meat processing facility together with a dual species abattoir makes the Bunbury Meat Centre a unique facility in Australia,” said Pat McEntee, General Manager of Fresh Food.

“The extension has added over 4000 square metres to the current facility and includes new staff amenities and offices, a cold storage warehouse that can hold over 2000 pallets of chilled meat and a new meat production facility that consolidates Woolworths’ meat processing under one roof,” said McEntee.

“In addition, Woolworths has invested over $3 million in equipment that will increase production and enable a greater variety of meat and value-added products to be manufactured.

“The new facility embraces the latest technology in equipment and refrigeration that delivers world-class coldchain practices, guaranteeing the quality of our meat products delivered to our 84 supermarkets throughout the state.”

Woolworths and V&V Walsh employ about 650 people at the site, with Woolworths employing a further 70 people for the expansion. McEntee said this makes the site one of the largest employers in the Bunbury and south-west region.

The centre was opened by Terry Redman, Minister for Agriculture & Food, Forestry & Corrective Services on 21 March. Also in attendance were Mike Norton, President of the West Australian Farmers Federation and David Smith, Mayor of the City of Bunbury.