Bundaberg Brewed Drinks’ $152.4 million ‘super brewery’ has opened after two years of construction, keeping production of the drinks brand solely in Queensland, and allowing for increased production.
The facility includes an innovation centre, large storage and cold room facilities, a laboratory, and new manufacturing and processing equipment.
The Australian government provided $19 million towards the project. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks provided $133.4 million and the Queensland government provided $575,800.
In the construction phase the project supported more than 850 jobs, and created more than 600 ongoing jobs in the region following construction, ensuring the operation stays in Bundaberg.
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks founder Cliff Fleming said in the company’s lifetime there had been highs, lows, wins, ‘a few losses’, and change.
“It is a very important day for our family. It's a combination of a dream where fifty-five years ago I came to Bundaberg and established a little business called Electra Breweries in Electra Street with my family and two employees. We moved from Bargara Road where we’ve been for a number of years and now we’ve come to this new premises.
“We still bottle our brews in a little stubby bottle, and we still call Bundaberg home. Crucially, we remain a family owned and operated business, and that means this master brewery has been built only where it belongs,” said Fleming.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the opening of the new brewery almost directly after returning from his visit to the United States.
“Whenever you go around the world you see Bundaberg Ginger Beer and other Bundaberg products, and that's a great credit and brings the city of Bundaberg to life right around the globe.
“I was with president Biden just a few days ago and found out his go-to drink is ginger beer. Now we just need to convert him to Bundaberg Ginger Beer,” said Albanese.
Albanese said the government’s $19 million investment in the project was not just about supporting a brand.
“It’s an investment into jobs for the Wide Bay Burnett region. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks is importantly, an Australian manufacturing business.
“I speak a lot about a ‘future made in Australia’ and the need for us to be resilient. One of the things we need to recognise is that manufacturing isn't just metal widgets. Manufacturing is Australian products; where we take the base product, in this case, ginger, and other natural resources that are grown here in the region and convert them into a product that produces jobs and benefits for the region and for Australia,” said Albanese.
Assistant minister Anthony Chisholm said that in addition to ensuring production remains in Bundaberg, the new brewery will benefit local suppliers, farmers and other direct and indirect affiliates of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.
“Bundaberg Brewed Drinks’ iconic ginger beer and other soft drinks are doing a roaring trade, and are the perfect example of how investment in Queensland’s regional economy provides benefits that extend well beyond the Wide Bay Burnett region,” said Chisholm.
The super brewery will also support Bundaberg Brewed Drinks global market growth, while improving operational capabilities by increasing annual production.
