Rosella to shed 70 jobs

The remaining 70 employees of iconic food manufacturer Rosella Foods will be made redundant after efforts to sell the business proved unsuccessful.

“The loss of jobs is disappointing but unavoidable due to the scale of losses the business was sustaining on a weekly basis,” said Ferrier Hodgson partner and Rosella receiver Jim Sarantinos.

“We had hoped that a suitable buyer would have been able to breathe new life into the business and preserve these jobs. We have exhausted all options for a sale and, unfortunately, we have no alternative but to cease trading.”

The receivers will turn to selling the Rosella Group brands, including Rosella, Aristocrat, Blue Banner, Galiko, Stromboli and The Curry Makers.

The Gourmet Food Group - incorporating Rosella Foods, Waterwheel Industries and Pitango Cuisines - was placed in receivership in November 2012. Waterwheel Industries has since been sold to Green’s General Foods, while Pitango Cuisines continues to be traded by Ferrier Hodgson while a sale is finalised.