Thomas Foods International is investing more than $30 million into sustainable expansion to improve the efficiency of its export operation.
The family-owned meat processing company will expand its stock holding, wastewater treatment and sustainable energy generation facilities to boost capacity and reduce the environmental footprint of its meat processing operations at Murray Bridge in South Australia.
The company says it is one of the largest capital expenditure programs in its 26-year history, and its director of operations, David McKay, says the company aims to cement its position as an environmentally sustainable and efficient exporter.
“Building our capacity and investing in industry best practice is a key part of our global growth strategy,” McKay says. “Success on the international stage starts in our own backyard.
“We are focused not only on increasing the processing efficiency of our facilities, but doing so in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.
“We’re currently processing in excess of 120,000 lambs and sheep, and 5000 cattle per week across the group for our 80 export markets and we’d like to increase those numbers in the coming years,” McKay said.
“The international demand for high quality Australian meat continues to strengthen. Thomas Foods International is well positioned to meet this growing demand.”
McKay said the infrastructure projects, which are in various stages of completion and commissioning, assist in securing and growing the company’s workforce. Capital works currently underway at Thomas Foods’ Murray Bridge facilities include:
- $5.5 million expansion of the lairage.
- $10 million wastewater storage treatment facility.
- $10 million sustainable energy program.
- $5 million upgrade of beef facility.
