Abattoir expansion boosts Stawell jobs and industry

13/05/2025

Raw leg of lamb, with abattoir workers visible in the background.

Stawell’s biggest employer is creating more local jobs, with the expansion of Thomas Foods International’s abattoir open for business.

The expansion, which was supported by a Victorian Government investment through Regional Development Victoria, is expected to almost double lamb production at the site to more than 2.3 million per year.

In a big win for local workers. The expansion has created 100 new jobs, bringing the abattoir workforce to 600 and cementing Thomas Foods International as a driving force in Victoria’s lamb market.

Rated one of Australia’s best lamb processing facilities, the Stawell abattoir is a key lamb supplier for Woolworths, Aldi and overseas markets, with staff processing around 1.5 million sheep per year.

Works to expand the abattoir included the delivery of a new chiller room with capacity for an additional 2,000 carcasses, a larger lamb boning room and new coldroom storage and truck loading bays.

New innovative technology and equipment have been installed that connect all areas of the abattoir to an in-line traceability system. This system ensures that only top-quality lamb is used in products and it’s expected to increase demand for Australian lamb and mutton.

The upgrades allow Thomas Foods International to grow its lamb exports across global markets, while creating new roles at the Stawell abattoir - from managerial and labourer jobs to new positions for forklift drivers, drovers and maintenance workers.

With bigger and better facilities, and a strengthened local workforce, the abattoir expansion is set to take Victorian products to a wider international market while reinforcing Stawell and the Grampians region as food processing powerhouses.

‘Thomas Foods welcomes the completion of this milestone project in what is a key region of our operations,’ said Chief Operating Officer Tom Davies.

‘The expansion and development of these cold storage facilities significantly enhance our capacity on site and creates local job opportunities.’

Investments like these are part of our record $45 billion support for rural and regional Victoria over the past decade. These investments mean more locals have jobs close to home and regional economies are supported to thrive.