- Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade
Family-owned smallgoods success story D'Orsogna is getting bigger, creating more than 100 new jobs in Melbourne's north thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula today officially opened D'Orsogna's new $64 million processing and packaging plant at Merrifield.
The company has grown from humble beginnings - a family butcher shop in West Perth in 1949 - to now supplying Woolworths, Coles, Subway, Hungry Jacks and other businesses across Australia.
Demand had outgrown capacity at the company's factory in Mount Waverley, and now with assistance from the Labor Government the purpose-built manufacturing facility at Merrifield provides for the company's east coast cooking, smoking, cooling, storing, slicing and packaging needs.
More than 160 workers are now based at Merrifield, up from 55 before the company's Government-supported expansion.
Located at the heart of Merrifield Business Park in Mickleham, D'Orsogna's state-of-the-art facility makes use of the latest developments in processing and packaging technology, which will help advance the company's growth in both domestic and export markets.
The company supplies products under the "D'Orsogna" and "Riverland" brands.
Victoria is Australia's largest exporter of food and fibre products, with sales of more than $14 billion annually. The sector contributes almost 6 per cent of Victoria's Gross State Product and employs almost 240,000 people.
As stated by Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula
"Our food and fibre sector makes up nearly 50 per cent of the state's exports and is worth more than $14 billion - this is another vote of confidence in the country's premium food capital."
"We're proud to have backed this expansion by D'Orsogna that has brought jobs to Melbourne's north and opened up even more opportunities for export and growth across this vital sector."
As noted by Member for Yuroke Ros Spence
"This is a fantastic result and it's terrific that we have been able to play a part in bringing 100 new jobs to the heart of Melbourne's north. It's great news for D'Orsogna and even better news for the local economy."
As noted by D'Orsogna managing director Greig Smith
"D'Orsogna is pleased to complete the establishment of its new Victorian facility in Melbourne's north and we welcome our incredibly diverse and skilled workforce. It's been a pleasure to work collaboratively with both state and local governments to expand our presence here."
