Just over 18-months since Andrew Loader and Gavin Evans launched Openway Food Co., the health foods company has opened a $10 million factory to bring manufacturing onshore.
The specialised production facility means that for the first time, Table of Plenty’s coated Mini Rice Cakes can be produced onshore.
For Loader, this was exactly why they launched the company; “To enable our passionate founder partners to scale-up their businesses and making purpose-led, better-for-you food products more accessible to Australian consumers.
“We have some outstanding local innovators and some of the best quality produce on our doorstep, so we need more onshore manufacturing capabilities to fully realise their value and keep the economic benefits within our local economy.
“This is a big moment for our Table of Plenty brand and our loyal consumers and also a win for Australian manufacturing,” Loader said.
The decision came after a strong growth in product sales.
Onshore manufacturing of the products will also reduce the costs and supply chain challenges associated with importing them from Europe, as well as improving their environmental footprint, Loader said.
Table of Plenty founders Kate and Tal Weiss said, “It’s fantastic to be able to bring the production of our much-loved Rice Cakes home to Australia through our investment at Openway Food Co.
“Australians want more wholesome and healthy foods that are produced sustainably and locally. Not only does it improve the carbon footprint of our products, but we’re also proud to be able to provide great manufacturing jobs and support local farmers.”
The new facility is located within Openway’s multi-purpose food plant in Melbourne’s south-east. It will create around 40 new jobs and economic benefits for rice and ingredient suppliers.
Openway consists of Annex Foods (Red Tractor, Raise the Bar), Table of Plenty, and Metro Foods (Keep it Cleaner).
With Loader’s experience in food and beverage, with 20 years at Mars Food, he could see a chance to do things differently with the growing health food market.
“We could see that many entrepreneurs hit a ceiling without an ability to continue to invest in operations, distribution and innovation, while retailers were managing a fragmented supplier base, looking for trusted partners to drive category growth and deliver more options to customers,” he said.
It now employs 160 employees producing its brands as well as co-manufacturing with retailers and other brand owners.
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Openway Food Co finds new path for health food sector
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