| 15 T T Karen Phelps Gearing up for growth The company has invested upwards of $25 million in buildings and plant infrastructure over the last three years. Milligans Food Group REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Milligans Food Group, a family-owned and operated business, is gearing up for substantial growth with significant investments in its operations. Spanning sites across Oamaru and Auckland, the company is poised to expand its manufacturing capabilities and meet the increasing demand for its products, says company executive director Joseph Paton. The company has invested upwards of $25 million in buildings and plant infrastructure over the last three years, strategically distributed across the locations with the expansion of the powder processing facility in Oamaru and new purpose built premises in Auckland. Milligans’ presence in Auckland dates back over 20 years but the previous facility could no longer accommodate the company’s growth trajectory, says Joseph. To address this, a new facility was constructed in Wiri, which opened its doors in April. The investment in the Auckland facility includes a larger warehouse and chiller space, enabling increased storage and distribution capacity. This new building includes a cheese cut and wrap plant, allowing the company to manufacture its products in the North Island for the first time. Joseph says this expansion aims to meet the demands of the North Island and Australian markets while alleviating pressure on the Oamaru plant, which will result in better servicing South Island customers. In Oamaru Milligans Food Group has made significant progress at its North Oamaru Business Park site with the recent addition of a new edible dairy powder blending plant. Joseph says the blending plant in Oamaru is a state-of-the-art facility, unparalleled in Australasia. Its flexibility, equipped with two paddle blenders, allows for the production of a variety of different products and sizes to meet customers’ specific needs. The expansion is slated to be operational by September, complementing the three existing powder plants in Oamaru. “This expansion was necessary as our existing powder blending plants in Oamaru were operating at maximum capacity with demand for the product extending to both domestic and export markets including Australia, the Pacific Islands, Dubai, Taiwan, China and the US.” As a major employer in Oamaru, Milligans Food Group currently employs approximately 70 staff across its Oamaru and Auckland sites. Over the next 18 months, the company plans to add another 15-plus employees in its Auckland operation and the expansion of the blending plant in Oamaru will create job opportunities for around six more staff members. Joseph says with continued emphasis on efficiency, automation, and technological advancements, Milligans Food Group aims to enhance its production capabilities further. By maintaining strong relationships with iconic brands and consistently delivering exceptional products, the company has experienced growing demand from both existing and new customers, he says. In recent years, Milligans Food Group has expanded its product lines, including the introduction of a butter processing plant. Last year it acquired two machines from Europe and plans are also underway to add another new line for specialty butter projects. With a rich history dating back to 1896 as a flour mill, Milligans Food Group has embraced diversification and adaptation to fuel its growth, says Joseph. Products include the Eclipse range, which includes milk powders and butters, cheese and protein powders. It also produces the Granny Faye’s and Frosty Boy brands and has an animal nutrition division Milligans Feeds. The business also includes Milligans Cafe and Store. “We’re a privately owned business, and a lot of our competitors have been bought up by overseas corporate companies, which changes the way they operate. Many people appreciate the way we do things because we’re flexible and we have a personal approach,” says Joseph explaining the driving force behind the company’s significant growth. Milligans Food Group’s dedicated and loyal team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years, are another factor. Now with 21,000sqm of production, warehousing and chilled space across its Auckland and Oamaru sites Joseph says Milligans Food Group is well set up to meet both current and future demand. DESIGN • ENGINEER • CONSTRUCT Specializing in complete turn-key solutions for commercial and industrial design & construction. The Aintree Advantage In House Design In House Engineering In House Steel Fabrications Complete Earthworks Comprehensive Project Management Get in touch to secure your turn-key project with the Aintree Advantage today Scan for a timelapse video of our construction of the newwarehouse for Milligans Food Group projects@aintree.co.nz 10 Rawson Way, Takanini www.aintree.co.nz (09) 268 2000
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