ABOUT 140 jobs are in limbo at a gourmet crackers factory in Dandenong.
Waterwheel Industries, along with other Gourmet Food Holdings companies in Australia and New Zealand, was placed in receivership last Friday.
Ferrier Hodgson, the receiver, will launch an expression-of-interest campaign tomorrow to find a potential buyer for the companies.
The parent company owns the famous tomato sauce brand Rosella.
Ferrier Hodgson partner Steve Sherman said an ‘‘urgent assessment’’ of the group’s financial position was under way.
“We will be engaging in discussions with key stakeholders including employees, customers and suppliers to determine whether operations can be continued.”
Waterwheel Industries’ 140 staff, including 69 contractors, make baked goods including crackers, pita crisps, flat breads, rice thins and crispbreads.
According to its website, its most famous brand is Waterthins.
An Australian Manufacturing Workers Union spokeswoman was unsure if the Waterwheel workforce was unionised.
‘‘We don’t appear to have any members out there,’’ she said.
