Jobs for 200 as factory aims for…
CHOBANI’S new $30 million yoghurt factory in Dandenong South is set to create 200 jobs for the region and become an export hub for the Asian market.
Chobani president, founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya officially opened the facility yesterday (Wednesday 5 December) alongside State Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh.
Chobani purchased Victorian dairy company Bead Foods last year and added more than 3000 square metres of wet processing and coolroom facilities to the existing factory to allow it to produce its traditional Greek yoghurt using an authentic straining process.
The upgrade effectively tripled production capacity to more than 30,000 tonnes of yoghurt a year.
“Chobani started just five years ago and was built upon the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality, great-tasting yoghurt made from only natural ingredients,” Mr Ulukaya said.
“We chose Australia as our first international market to launch Chobani because of its amazingly high quality milk, and we knew that Australians are passionate about great-tasting food.
“I am so proud of our team Chobani here – what they have done in such a short space of time.”
Mr Ulukaya said the company would be as big a part of the Dandenong community as it was allowed.
“Without community, no business is going anywhere,” he said.
The factory has already created 50 new jobs in the past year, and a further 150 are expected to be added over the next three years.
It’s expected to become an export hub to grow the Chobani Greek Yoghurt and Gippsland Dairy brands into Asia.
“This expansion is good news for Victorian dairy farmers who supply Chobani Australia, and it is a strong vote of confidence in Victoria’s valuable dairy sector,” Mr Walsh said.
He said the Australian yoghurt and dairy desserts market was worth about one billion dollars annually and was one of the fastest growing domestic dairy product categories.
Chobani America’s number one selling yoghurt brand.
All Chobani products are gluten free, Kosher certified, and provide twice as much protein as regular yoghurt plus five live and active cultures.
Chobani gives 10 per cent of its annual profits to charities worldwide through its Shepherd’s Gift Foundation, the company’s charitable arm.
