Food and grocery manufacturing generates $7.8bn in SE Qld

Food and grocery manufacturing has become a growth industry in South East Queensland, generating $7.68 billion in annual turnover and $915 million in wages across the federal electorates of McPherson, Bonner, Griffith, Brisbane and Oxley.

According to figures released by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) in its Food and Grocery Manufacturing in South East Queensland Economic Snapshot 2018–19, the sector employs 11,790 people and is responsible for 29.1% of total manufacturing output.

Table 1: South East Queensland Food, Beverage and Grocery Manufacturing, 2018. To open the image in a new window, click here.

“Food manufacturing is critical to our ongoing economic growth and the Morrison government is committed to creating the environment for manufacturers to continue to innovate, grow and create new jobs. In my own electorate there are great local success stories like the Vege Chip Company, that’s been operating for more than 25 years, providing long-term employment for locals,” said Karen Andrews, Federal Member for McPherson and Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.

Tanya Barden, AFGC CEO, said: “Food and grocery manufacturing employers in South East Queensland range from major global companies like PepsiCo in Tingalpa to local brands like The Vege Chip Company in Currumbin Waters. These operations are dedicated to ensuring local workers have job security and the chance to upskill. They continue to invest and innovate at their facilities and provide employees with pathways to exciting careers.”

Table 2: South East Queensland Food, Beverage and Grocery Manufacturing, 2018. To open the image in a new window, click here.

“The food and grocery manufacturing industry is central to the health and wealth of our nations. It is also central to the health of regional economies, with about 42% of those employed in the sector located in regional and rural communities. The AFGC is committed to keeping the sector strong and resilient because it is an industry that is sustaining Australia,” Barden said.

Key points:

• Jobs — South East Queensland food and grocery manufacturing businesses employ 11,790 workers.
• Wages — Wages and salaries pump $915 million into the South East Queensland economy annually, worth an average $77,000 for every full-time equivalent worker. This constitutes 19.9% of the manufacturing sector wages and salaries for the region.
• Economics — The sector contributes $7.68 billion in annual output. This represented 29.1% of manufacturing output and 3.9% of the total output in South East Queensland.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/graja