Baiada Poultry has opened a new large-scale poultry processing facility in Tamworth, significantly increasing its production capacity and introducing advanced automation, chilling and traceability technology.
The multi-million-dollar Tamworth processing plant is part of Baiada’s ongoing investment in local poultry production and will support its Steggles and Lilydale Free Range brands.
At launch, the facility has capacity to process around 1.5 million chickens a week, with approval to expand to three million with a second processing line.
The plant has two high-capacity processing lines, each designed to handle up to 15,000 birds an hour.
Baiada said the facility integrates automated inline processing, digital process control and traceability, automated quality assurance, secondary processing and packaging technology, automated cold storage and integrated logistics.
A key component is a three-stage chilling system combining immersion chilling, shock chilling and maturation air chilling. According to Baiada, it is the first combination of immersion and air chilling technology at this scale globally and has been designed to improve product quality and consistency while increasing processing efficiency.
The investment builds on Baiada’s long history in the region. Founder Celestino “Charlie” Baiada established the company’s first Tamworth operations in 1966, with the new plant marking 60 years of operations in the region.
Baiada Poultry managing director, Simon Camilleri, said the development reflected the company’s long-term commitment to Tamworth.
“This is a long-term investment in Tamworth and the people who have supported Baiada for generations and the 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.”
Baiada said Tamworth’s geographic location, established poultry industry, infrastructure and skilled workforce were key factors in expanding its operations in the region.
The employee facilities at the new plant include a cafe, gym, landscaped courtyard, breakout areas and administration spaces.
“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 Tamworth plant forms part of Baiada’s broader investment in processing capacity as it prepares for continued growth in Australian poultry consumption and demand for its chicken products.
