GMP's multi-million dollar expansion creates 76 jobs
Family-run business GMP kicked off its “incredibly important” plant expansion this week, with a view to increasing yearly meat production output by at least 40% over the next five years.
The expansion touches almost all areas of the meat processing facility in New South Wales, Australia: the lairage, slaughter room, offal station, chill rooms and transportation hub will be subject to a facelift. Ageing infrastructure will be replaced too.
“This project marks another incredibly important milestone for our business, our family, our hardworking employees and for the community of Gundagai,” said GMP CEO Will Barton.
Economic stimulation
“The investment will create 76 new jobs, boost local spending by an estimated AU$3m during the construction phase alone and generate ongoing stimulus to the local economy, estimated to be in excess of AU$150m per year.”
GMP first started as a business 40 years ago, processing around 100 lambs per week. Thanks to lucrative contracts, including a 35-year relationship with retailer Coles, GMP now processes over half a million lambs annually. It also claims to be one of the largest employers in the region.
Wiley, a designer and builder of food manufacturing facilities, is helping GMP deliver the refit. Its managing director, Tom Wiley, said GMP’s decision to implement new technology will make it a competitive player in the future.
“The facility will have full traceability of the lamb carcase, executed and tracked with RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags. Provisions, too, have been made for future X-ray capacity in the facility, which will enable GMP to understand the supply chain even further with yield insights,” said Wiley.
