Yandina-based Nutworks will move to a new processing facility in the Noosa hinterland town of Cooroy.
The Cooroy facility is part of Nutworks’ expansion of its operations and processing to meet domestic and global demand for their products.
The Sunshine Coast company, established in 1993, is internationally recognised for its commitment to quality and innovation in nuts in shell, raw kernel and an exciting range of macadamia products.
About 80 macadamia farmers around Queensland provide product to Nutworks for processing and many of them were treated to a tour of the new facility which included the launch of a new Nutworks product.
“I am very impressed with the Cooroy facility. It gives the company security to go forward. I love the cut nut product, it is much tastier than the traditional roasted nut,” said Candy Johnson who owns macadamia farms at Downsfield and Tandur.
Norm and Donna Anderson have been growing macadamias as a supplement to their cane farm at Childers and their farm has been in the family for six generations for 110 years.
“We’ve been with Nutworks since we started growing six years ago. This opportunity has come along at a good time and we like the plan for Nutworks to grow while keeping the personal touch which has always been great,” said Donna.
The Cooroy facility provides a new product for Nutworks under the label of the Fresh Macadamia Company, a unique roasted-in-shell macadamia with a special cut making them easy to crack by hand. The whole macadamias are dried in their shell, pre-cut and then oven roasted, or soaked in a sea salt brine and then oven roasted for a salted version.
A unique key to open the shells is included in every pack. These nuts are popular overseas and there is an opportunity to expand this product further in Australia.
“We had been planning to expand our storage at Yandina by the end of the year so this purchase in Cooroy was fortuitous for us as it provides us with so much more opportunity,” Nutworks chief executive officer Wayne Gersbach said.
“Our goal is to increase our processing to 5000 tonnes annually within the next five years. We plan to be at the forefront technologically to allow us to value add to the macadamia industry, produce high quality products and grow profitability while still retaining our personal relationships with our growers.
“Increasing our processing capacity means we can take more product from growers which is important in an industry that is expanding with many young trees set to increase production in the coming years. That also ultimately means increases in jobs and an overall benefit to the industry whilst at the same time providing consumers with more variety and continually improving products.”
The Yandina facility will continue to run as a retail outlet as well as roasting, chocolate coating and the confectionary line of products.
The new acquisition also allows for up to one tonne of macadamias an hour to be roasted, which is a massive increase in capability from the current 250kg per hour at Yandina.
For more information visit nutworks.com.au
