The second round of Manufacturing Modernisation Fund (MMF) grants has awarded more than $25.3 million to 37 food and beverage manufacturers. The fund allocated $55 million in total to 86 companies across Australia.
In the food and beverage sector, 15 companies received $1 million each towards projects that ranged from automation, new manufacturing processes, expanding facilities and product development.
Companies included Annex Foods, Bickford’s, iPantrym Poultry Plus, and Ilume for automation projects, and Forager Foods, Kyvalley Dairy Group, Real Foods, and True Foods for processing upgrades.
Six breweries made the list, with Modus Operandi Brewing Company securing $1 million towards brewing its latest product, NORT, a non-alcoholic beer. Bentspoke Brewing received $671,000 to expand its canning capacity and Moon Dog $350,000 for its post-mix alcoholic seltzer innovation.
Garlo’s Pies will receive $746,571 towards a $2.96 million upgrade of its production facilities that will enabling it to increase production of pie products to 8000 units per hour. The project will create up to 27 new jobs and enable the company to pursue export opportunities for its products, the government said.
MMF round two was a competitive merit-based grants program, with applications assessed by a committee of independent industry experts. Businesses are required to match government funding on a three-to-one basis, with government grants covering up to 25 per cent of eligible project expenditure.
Round one in April saw the government invest $48.3 million into nearly 200 projects valued at more than $215 million.
For a full list of successful recipients click here.
