August 23, 2022
Kingaroy’s Plenty Foods will upgrade its oil processing facilities in 2023 after the State Government agreed to underwrite almost a third of the estimated $690,000 cost.
On Friday, Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner paid a flying visit to the company’s factory to announce Plenty Foods had secured up to $200,000 in funding from the State Government’s Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants scheme.
The company is one of only 16 businesses approved in the fourth round of the RED Grants program.
Plenty Foods will use the funding to expand its cold-pressed oil processing facilities, converting peanuts that had formerly been destined for landfill into premium peanut oil.
The expansion will also create as many as four new, full-time local jobs in the coming year and potentially a further seven jobs over the coming five years.
“With Plenty Foods increasing its peanut oil production capacity, we can further reduce Australia’s reliance on imported products,” Mr Furner said.
“The more we can support Queensland businesses and the more they can grow and manufacture, the more we can ensure that dollars earned on home soil are dollars spent on home soil.
“Investments like this are critical to not only local communities, but the wider Queensland economy.”
Plenty Foods Managing Director Josh Gadischke said increased demand for peanut oil has put pressure on the company’s existing filling lines and staff.
“We simply need to increase our output capacity or risk losing contracts to interstate and overseas suppliers,” he said.
“The additional demand for peanut oil will allow Plenty Foods to acquire peanuts that have traditionally been treated as waste and have been discarded by local growers.
“We will now be able to acquire this waste product and turn it into a food-grade cooking oil of high standard.
“The entire process greatly reduces waste and food miles, creating a real value-add for local growers.”
Josh said the project will be made up of various items of plant and equipment so the company can maintain an entire bottling line solution for the 750ml bottles used in bottling refined peanut cooking oil.
While some of the mechanical components will be manufactured locally, others will need to be sourced from Europe to ensure Plenty Foods is using state-of-the-art equipment.
This is likely to take six to nine months, given current global supply chain difficulties.
The new bottling line will be the latest expansion for the company, which opened its new $22 million nut flour and cold pressed oil production facility last December.
“…given current global supply chain difficulties.”
Yes, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have really highlighted the inherent flaws in globalisation. Imagine our supply chain difficulties if China ever decides to invade Taiwan.