Meat processor Frew Foods will upgrade equipment, expand facilities, and develop export opportunities with a multi-million-dollar grant from the Victorian government.
Frew Foods is one of the country’s highest quality lamb processing facilities and a major supplier to Woolworths and Aldi.
Located in Stawell, Victoria, it is the largest employer for the town with almost 500 staff. The company processes up to 900,000 sheep a year for domestic and export markets, including to the US and Canada.
The project will almost double its current lamb production, while equipment upgrades will reduce the company’s processing costs.
A new cold store will be installed to further reduce costs, while a traceability system will track livestock during any potential disease outbreaks.
Thomas Foods International acquired the business in 2020.
The funding came via the state government’s Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund. Since it began in 2015, more than $36 billion has been investment in rural and regional Victoria.