Halving carbon emissions doubles production

A new freezer system is saving food manufacturer Crafty Chef $20,000 a year in energy costs while doubling production levels and reducing carbon emissions intensity by more than 50%.

The Emu Plains-based company produces frozen prepared meals, finger foods and sauces under the Bella’s Kitchen, The Good Meal Co. and Simply Special brands. Its products are distributed through major companies such as Woolworths, Coles and Aldi.

Crafty Chef will replace its existing commercial blast freezer system with an industrial spiral freezer system that uses ammonia as the refrigerant. The ammonia system uses an evaporative condenser which delivers an increase in overall system efficiency and electric power demand savings.

The Crafty Chef ammonia spiral freezer system.

The company received a $499,999 grant as part of the Australian Government’s Clean Technology Food and Foundries Program, which supports Crafty Chef’s $600,000 investment in the project.

Carbon emissions intensity is expected to be reduced by 54.1% as a result of this project.

At completion of the project, as a result of increased capacity of the new freezer system, production levels will double and the company will make cost savings of approximately $20,000 a year from energy reductions.

Jitesh Gohil (left) with staff members at Crafty Chef’s packing machine.

“The Clean Technology Investment Program was pivotal for us to invest so heavily in this project,” said Jitesh Gohil, Crafty Chef General Manager and co-founder. “Without government funding the project would not have been possible.

“Crafty Chef is proud of this project and excited to be a manufacturer aware of the need in the current world climate to be taking action to reduce emissions.

“It also makes good business sense as the cost of power is rising and if Australia’s manufacturers - big and small - are to continue to prosper, we need to transform how we operate.”