Source: Australian Food News

Story By: Matt Paish

South Australian juice-maker Nippy’s has unveiled plans to spend A$10 million on increasing its packaging capacity and expanding its milk processing operations at Waikerie and Moorouk in the Riverland region.

The Riverland adjoins the Murray River near South Australia’s border with Victoria.

Nippy’s, which is owned by the Knispel Group, has been awarded a State Government grant of A$2.61 million to help with this expansion.

Managing Director of the Knispel Group, Jeff Knispel, said the upgrades would boost production, employment and sales. He said, “We’ll be installing a new auto packing machine and feed line at the Waikerie plant in addition to upgrading the site’s contract worker accommodation and factory shop.

“At Moorook, we’ll be installing a new filling line to meet an increased demand for packing services for other drink manufacturers, together with new mixing and blending tanks for Nippy’s brand products.”

In addition to creating up to 25 new jobs in the Riverland, Mr Knispel said he expects that increased production will help further promote Riverland produce and create flow-on benefits for independent growers.

The Waikerie upgrade is due for completion in June 2012, while work at Moorook is due be completed in December 2013.

The South Australian Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Development, Gail Gago, said the grant to the company was coming from the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund and would position the company to ramp up sales in local, national and overseas markets.

To read the full story, follow this link: www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2011/11/21/sa-juicemaker%e2%80%99s-a10-million-boost-to-operations.html