Inghams Group will phase out value-added poultry processing at a Queensland facility in a reshuffle that will see these operations consolidated into three states.
The plant in Cleveland, Brisbane produces cooked and frozen products for retail, quick service restaurants and food service, and its operations will progressively be absorbed into its other value-added plants in NSW, Victoria and South Australia over the next eight months.
Inghams said the move is part of a plan to consolidate its 'further processing' network from four facilities to three in line with its Project Accelerate program, which includes investment in capacity and capability at the three processing plants.
“This initiative will lead to increased employment across the three plants with increased volumes, especially at Edinburgh Parks in South Australia,” the company said.
“Once complete, volumes currently processed at Cleveland will be absorbed into the other plants, increasing the productivity of those sites and enhancing service for customers.”
The company said Queensland will remain an important national production hub, reflected by its recent investment in a distribution centre, new laboratories and a second feed mill to support its primary processing and farming operations. It also said it would seek to redeploy most employees of the facility in its other Queensland operations.
Alternative options for the Cleveland facility will be considered over the next few months,with the site expected to remain in its national network in some capacity.
The consolidation will be progressively implemented into next year, with the benefits to be realised in 2020.
