Baiada Poultry opens its multimillion-dollar processing plant in Tamworth

Baiada Poultry has officially opened its new Tamworth Processing Plant, marking a major milestone for a company that has been operating in the region since 1966.

Representing a multimillion-dollar investment, the purpose-built facility combines next-generation food manufacturing technology with industry-leading sustainability initiatives and modern employee amenities. It has been designed as a large-scale, integrated food manufacturing operation capable of supporting future growth while strengthening domestic food production capability.

Simon Camilleri, Managing Director of Baiada Poultry, said the investment reinforces Baiada’s enduring commitment to the region and the people who call it home.

“This is a long-term investment in Tamworth and the people who have supported Baiada for generations. Our history in this region stretches back to the 1960s, when Charlie Baiada first established operations here, and this facility reflects our confidence in the future of Tamworth,” Camilleri said.

“We have grown alongside this community for six decades. This facility is about ensuring Tamworth remains at the heart of our operations for decades to come, creating opportunities for local families and supporting the broader regional economy.”

The food manufacturing facility

The facility brings together advanced processing technologies designed to improve efficiency, quality, traceability and operational performance.

The site incorporates automated inline processing systems, digital process control and traceability capabilities, automated quality assurance systems, secondary processing operations, automated packaging technology, automated cold storage facility and integrated logistics capabilities.

At launch, the facility can process approximately 1.5 million chickens per week, with the site designed to expand to an approved capacity of up to three million birds per week through the future operation of a second processing line. The plant features two high-capacity online processing lines, each designed to process up to 15,000 birds per hour.

A key feature of the facility is its advanced three-stage chilling system, incorporating immersion chilling, shock chilling and maturation air chilling technology. The system is claimed to be the first immersion and air chilling combination of its scale deployed anywhere in the world, helping deliver improved product quality, consistency and operational efficiency.

Tamworth was selected for the expansion due to the geographic location, and its established poultry industry, infrastructure and skilled workforce, providing a strong foundation for the long-term growth of the sector.

Investing in people and technology together

While the facility has been designed around advanced manufacturing systems, equal emphasis has been placed on creating a workplace that supports employee wellbeing, comfort and experience.

Purpose-built employee facilities include a cafeteria, gymnasium, landscaped courtyard, breakout areas and modern administration spaces, creating an environment designed to support the thousands of people who work across Baiada’s operations in the Tamworth region.

“Technology is an important part of this facility, but it’s the people behind that technology who make our business successful,” Camilleri said.

“We wanted to create a workplace that our employees are proud to come to every day. That’s why we invested not only in world-class processing technology, but also in the amenities and facilities that support our people, their wellbeing and their experience at work.”

The opening comes as demand for poultry products continues to grow across Australia and follows significant investment by Baiada to expand its production and processing capabilities in support of its leading brands, including Steggles and Lilydale Free Range, and the future needs of customers and consumers.

Image: Supplied