I read with interest the story about the McCain closure.
I was employed by McCain during the late 80s and early 90s; my father was employed there for 30 years.
Despite McCain claims that this factory was too old, outdated and uncompetitive the vegetable factory had been almost completely upgraded over the past 25 years.
New packing equipment, process lines and cold storage have all been added.
There is no doubt that this decision has been a long time coming as the dollar races higher and with lower production costs, underpinned by lower wages and a weak New Zealand currency, this likely to happen in other sectors; maybe the diary industry.
Lack of continuing investment and a poor commitment to the Tasmanian farmers should be a wake up call for all.
There will be many more Circular Head families affected by this closure, contractors, seasonal employees who number in the hundreds, the loss on wages into the local economy, forcing closures to other businesses.
The pursuit of the globalized economy has seen a massive loss of our wealth-generating industries such as manufacturing.
Replaced by debt-generating service industries.
Take a good hard look Tasmania because this appears to be the direction we are being driven down like sheep to the proverbial Economic Slaughter.
Support small Tasmania business, buy local, spend a little more and buy quality as the savings you think you are making will be swallowed by other costs including the loss of jobs, maybe not yours but perhaps a son or a daughter.
Ah, McCains … you’ve done it again, from their website: HERE
1988: An additional Potato Processing plant was built in Smithton, Tasmania adjacent to the vegetable processing plant. McCain sales had grown to a point where additional potato processing capacity was essential. Tasmania provided a climate that is well suited to growing good quality potatoes. As McCain already had a vegetable plant up and running in Tasmania it seemed to be the ideal location.
View of New Zealand’s Heretaunga Plains, looking north toward Napier, Hawke’s Bay.
1994: A potato processing plant was built in Timaru, New Zealand adjacent to the Vegetable Plant. This enabled McCain to market locally produced potato products which had previously been imported from Australia.
1996: A potato processing plant was built in Timaru, New Zealand adjacent to the Vegetable Plant. This enabled McCain to market locally produced potato products which had previously been imported from Australia.
2002: Additionally, a major distribution warehouse was completed in Timaru.
This timeline does not include every plant upgrade undertaken as this is really a continuous process.
McCain is committed to ensuring that its production facilities in Australia and New Zealand are of the highest standard. There is no higher priority for a food company than the safety of its products. We have adopted the American Institute of Bakers (AIB) Gold Standard certification system which assures customers that a manufacturer’s facility has met the highest standards of:
* Sanitation and cleanliness
* Food safety
* Ingredient quality
* Manufacturing integrity
