Bega Cheese factory
A Strathmerton factory is set to become Australia's largest processed cheese plant after a multi-million dollar industry agreement created 150 new jobs.
Under an alliance between Bega Cheese and Kraft Foods saw Bega acquire the Strathmerton factory in northern Victoria. The alliance involves a 10-year supply agreement from Kraft and secures the future of the Strathmerton factory and its 195 workers.
Bega's Strathmerton factory processes 22,000 tonnes of product a year, which the company plans to increase to 55,000 tonnes in the next five years, with 20,000 tonnes to be exported.
The companies' investment in Strathmerton follows the Victorian Government's development of a modernised irrigation system for the Food Bowl region of northern Victoria.
The $2 billion Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project will dramatically improve water delivery and efficiency by upgrading the region's irrigation infrastructure with automated technology and repairing outdated channels.
The new infrastructure will underpin the region's internationally competitive production and is expected to position the region for ongoing industry investment.