An organic sultana specialist is bringing dried fruit and fresh jobs to Dandenong South.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams visited Murray River Organics in Crompton Way, Dandenong South, on Monday 19 June to meet workers and hear the company’s plans for expansion.
The State Government chipped in support to establish the organic packaging and distribution facility and corporate office which will create 75 new jobs.
Murray River Organics managing director Erling Sorensen said the business took over the facility last August and became fully operational in February.
“We were one of the pioneering organic dry vine fruit vineyards in the country,” he said.
“It started back in the’ 70s.
“We were founded on growing organic dried vine fruit in Sunraysia and we grew up to become the largest producer of organic dried vine fruit in the world.
“We have in excess of 3000 acres of vineyards in and around Mildura where we dry the sultanas and process and clean them in a production facility we have up there and transport the product down to Dandenong for packaging.”
Mr Sorensen said Dandenong South provided good infrastructure and staff supply.
“We looked at a number of different locations, both up near Mildura where our vineyards are, and in New South Wales,” he said.
“We deem ourselves a Victorian business and Dandenong offered a number of benefits to us.”
Murray River Organics employs more than 120 staff and has sales offices in Europe, the USA, Japan and China.
“We would be about 50-odd here at the moment,” he said.
“That’s 50 full-time employees and then we probably have about 25 or so casuals that are employed on the two shifts that we’re running.
“The business is expanding continuously.”
The range includes sultanas, rice and quinoa and couscous through to coconut, coconut oil and nut butters.
The company works with big manufacturing companies, from confectioners to bakeries and cereal producers, through to supermarkets and small cafes.
“We’re just about to launch a portal which will enable us to also sell direct to consumers,” Mr Sorensen said.
