Nestle, the Swiss consumer goods giant, has announced an investment of A$32 million ($20.8 million) to upgrade its manufacturing line for powdered drink concentrates in Smithtown, Australia, bringing total investment in the site to A$80 million ($52.7 million) over the last decade.
In a statement, the company said the investment would be used to introduce state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to the factory and support increased production capacity.
Operating since 1921, the Smithtown factory manufactures more than 200,000 cans of Milo annually, as well as products under the Nesquik, Nescafe and Malted Milk brands, with a workforce of around 200 employees.
Commenting on the move, Nestle Smithtown factory manager James Garley said: “We’re committed to investing in continuous improvements and upgrades to our Smithtown factory so we can continue to proudly make iconic brands like Milo right here. Over the next 12 months, the project will inject an estimated $20 million into the local economy and support almost 200 jobs as we construct a new building to house Milo production”.
“It’s a complex project, but the team will work to ensure the facilities continue to deliver the choc-malt crunch of Milo Australians have loved for generations”, he added.
The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Source: Nestle / The Manufacturer