From ice cream to whisky the latest MMI funding round delivers

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the seven companies awarded funding in the latest round of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) will bolster employment and innovation in food and beverage manufacturing.

The companies are:

• Sabrini Foods (VIC, NSW, SA): $1.4 million to become the first local manufacturer to transform dairy into extended shelf life and frozen paneer, overcoming one of the constraints to export;
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Bulla (VIC): $4.5 million for a purpose-built facility to make new ice cream lines for domestic and export markets;
  
  

  

  
  
  

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  Plenty Foods (QLD): $9 million to turn Australian nuts into locally made protein nut flour;
  
  
• Turbine Sunshine Coast (QLD): $8.7 million to establish an R&D centre and large-scale contract beverage manufacturing facility;
  
  
• Mulgowie Fresh (QLD, VIC): $5.1 million to expand its processing capability and capacity in sweet corn and beans, increasing its supplies both domestically and in South-East Asia;
  
  
• Sullivans Cove Distillery (TAS): $3.3 million towards building its new production facility, which will double as a tourism experience; and
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Ennio (SA): $1.3 million to develop its world-first patented technology for manufacturing nettings and casings specifically for the global meat and poultry industry.

In July, 37 food and beverage companies received $25.3 million in the second round of grants. 

Food and beverage production is the largest manufacturing sector in Australia, employing one in four manufacturing workers and contributing around $22.4 billion to our economy.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the grants would unlock further significant investment from the sector.

“This funding will help some of the most innovative producers leverage technology to increase their production, while meeting growing export demand and creating new local jobs. Not only will this funding help maximise the agricultural advantages we enjoy, but it will also help regional Australia and the supply chains that operate throughout it.” Taylor said. 

Food and Beverage is the fourth stream of funding across priority areas identified under the MMI, and follows $100 million invested in Space, Medical Products, and Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing announced in July.