Mildura abattoir owners are putting the final touches to the works ahead of a July opening date.
The works will initially employ 80 staff from the local area according to Cedar Meats Operations Manager, Tony Kairouz.
Cedar Meats bought the abattoir in 2009 and has been on a steady path to the opening after the long process to reinstate the relevant licences.
Since then it had been a matter of incorporating the works into the Cedar Meats existing operations, Mr Kairouz said.
“The works allows us to get a bit closer to the stock we want and where we haven’t been as competitive as we would like to have been in the past,” he said.
“We’re aiming at small, light lambs, light mutton as well as good quality, salt bush lamb from further afield with a view to launching a premium brand.
“Importantly it puts us close to goats. It ticks all the boxes for Cedar Meats. It compliments, rather than competes, with our current operations – it’s a really good fit for us.
The Mildura works, with a beef floor, gave the company the opportunity to venture into beef (for the first time) at a future stage.
The State government has supported the project through its $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
Mr Kairouz said stage one of the business required about 80 staff (the smallest stage) and then stage two was starting the beef floor up and doubling the small stock capacity.
He said the site should employ, on a single shift basis, 400 plus workers in the future with more investment.
“The funding from the State Government and its support was very welcome and we are grateful for their support,” he said.
Mr Kairouz said the company was spending a lot of money on getting the plant up to standard.
“Much of the existing works had to be modified to suit our requirements to meet the needs of our markets as efficiently as we can but also wide a market access as possible.
“The product from the works would have access to the EU, US and China.
Stock would be drawn from NSW, SA and northern Victoria and potentially Queensland, he said.
“It’s all about being sustainable for us. How do we grow our business, how do we become more competitive, how do we do what we do best,” Mr Kairouz said.
“Mildura ticked all the boxes. It’s an ideal, logical expansion for us.
“We have an expansion plan in mind for what we want to do with our business and Mildura fits in beautifully.
“It also allows us get back into markets like the Middle East that are more competitive and have smaller margins.
“The goats have become an important part of our business and this investment is a sign of our commitment to the goat industry.
“It is a prime position for goats and we have the support of producers.
Mr Kairouz said they had conducted around 300 interviews for staff at the works.
“The interest in working in the business has been amazing,” he said.
“We are employing all locals. We are implementing the same model we used in Melbourne, inviting people who are willing to learn and show great attitude and initiative to join the family business.
“To learn the job the way we teach it and uphold the standards we want – which are the highest possible in the meat industry.
“We are not here for the short term, we’re here for the long term.
“We want to build a team similar to what we built in Melbourne and train them from scratch and feel as much a part of the business as I do.”
