Australia: Safcol breaks ground on A$80 million facility

Safcol , the global seafood supplier, has broken ground on a new A$80 million ($53 million) purpose-built food manufacturing facility in Edinburgh, Adelaide. Lead contractor Sagle Constructions and the Safcol team officially broke ground on the new project on 2nd June 2026. According to Sagle Constructions, the site is 58,000 square metres and development will include 24,000 square metres of climate-controlled production and food processing areas, warehousing and offices.

The new facility will replace Safcol’s existing Elizabeth factory over the next two years, which has been its primary headquarters and manufacturing facility for 30 years. The upcoming plant will integrate advanced manufacturing technology designed to improve productivity, double the company’s current production capacity, optimize operational efficiency and secure long-term competitiveness. The design also incorporates provisions for future integration of renewable energy to reduce water and energy consumption.

According to Safcol Australia CEO Andrew Mitchell, the investment was a strategic decision aimed at securing the future of local manufacturing operations while addressing increasing industry pressures. “Our Elizabeth facility has served us incredibly well over many decades, but increasing energy costs, rising logistics pressures and ageing infrastructure meant we reached a point where maintaining long-term competitiveness required significant change,” Mitchell said.

Established in 1945, Safcol currently manufactures approximately 60% of Australia’s wet baby food supply, alongside soups, canned vegetables, and seafood products. In addition, Safcol recently opened its new Adelaide Fish Market facility in Thebarton to serve as a central wholesale seafood hub. Completion of the Edinburgh site is expected in August 2027.

Source: Inside FMCG / Food & Drink Business