Meat processor Hilton Foods Australia has opened its new $280 million facility in Heathwood, Queensland. It will supply 450 Woolworths stores spanning northern New South Wales to Far North Queensland.
The investment is underpinned by Hilton’s long-term national supply partnership with Woolworths and will create around 650 jobs.
The site has Australia’s second largest rooftop photovoltaic solar installation, providing roughly 50 per cent of the facility’s energy needs, as well as the latest processing technology to ensure consistency and quality of fresh meat and improve stock availability across more hours of trade.
“We are proud to be joining the local community in Heathwood and contributing to economic growth with new employment opportunities and service contracts,” said Hilton Foods Australia CEO Pat McEntee.
“We value our partnership with Woolworths and look forward to assisting in developing a faster and fresher supply of high quality meat and value added products.
“We also wish to acknowledge and thank both the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government for their support in commissioning our Heathwood site.”
Woolworths director of fresh food Paul Harker said the opening of the Hilton facility in Heathwood will help Woolworths deliver a consistently great fresh meat offer and improved stock availability for Queensland customers.
“We’re fortunate to source our fresh meat from the best Australian producers and it’s important we uphold the quality of their product from paddock to plate,” said Harker.
“It’s really pleasing to see our long term supply relationship with Hilton Foods Australia underpin this important new investment and job creation in Queensland.”
In August, Woolworths announced its $135 million Melbourne Fresh Distribution Centre would be co-located with Hilton Meats' facility. Vaughan Constructions is developing the site, which is due to open in late 2020.
Hilton’s Heathwood facility will deliver around 1500 tonnes of fresh red meat to Woolworths stores each week and complements its existing meat processing facilities in Melbourne and Perth.
