A $20 million investment in processing capacity, storage and product range at Goulburn Valley Creamery’s (GVC) Kyabram facility in Victoria, will enable it to recruit an extra 140 million litres of milk to meet customer demand.
GVC CEO, Mancel Hickey, said the company wanted to “significantly increase” volumes to make the most of its secured export opportunities as well as expand direct markets for local dairy farmers.
“Our competitive opening price reflects the importance we place on our farmers, but it’s just the start of the conversation we have with our suppliers and the reason they join us.
“We are really looking to do things a bit differently to the rest of the industry, and that’s reflected in how we work and engage with our suppliers,” Hickey said.
Part of the upgrade was assisted by a $10 million grant from the Victorian government to upgrade its water treatment infrastructure.
The water infrastructure allows the company to treat raw channel water onsite to a standard which is safe for consumption rather than relying on outsourcing treated water.
GVC can now treat more water than it was previously able to outsource using new technologies such as filtration equipment and dissolved air flotation systems.
Victorian minister for regional development, Jaclyn Symes, said access to safe water was critical for the company’s operations, which then supported its decision to deliver the broader expansion and upgrades of the facility to produce more dairy products.
“The expansion project is enabling local dairy producers like Goulburn Valley Creamery to support towns like Kyabram with more workers and a strengthened supply chain.
“Victoria’s dairy industry is an important driver of local jobs and economic activity, which is why we’re thrilled that Goulburn Valley Creamery’s expansion has led to more jobs than expected,” Symes said.
The expansion resulted in GVC employing 17 new operational staff, more than doubling its Kyabram workforce to 30 people. The company employers around 90 people across Victoria.
The processing facility is in the historic Kyabram Jam Factory, which was home to SPC IXL jams. GVC has operated from the site since 2020, when it was established.
From frozen milk concentrate to frozen cream, the company's wide range of dairy products are sourced locally and exported globally.
In 2023, GVC bought St David Dairy from Maggie Beer Holdings for $1.6 million.
New GM Farm Supply Dairy
Scott Sieben joined GVC in May as GM Farm Supply Dairy with the responsibility to grow GVC’s farmer supply base.
“Scott has an exceptionally deep understanding of the Australian dairy industry from multiple angles – as a past dairy farmer himself, as well as in key senior leadership roles such as executive chair of Australian Dairy Farmers Corporation.
“He directly understands the complexity and challenges dairy farmers face, working hard to genuinely partner for mutual success,” Hickey said.
Sieben said GVC’s operational model keeps the farmer firmly in mind, prioritising honest and transparent partnerships.
“It is crucially important to us that we have our farmers front and centre of all that we do.
“It is about expanding market opportunities and sharing success with our farmer partners.
“The best way we can do that is to develop strong, direct relationships with all of them,” Sieben said.
