Business

Nutworks expands to Cooroy

COOROY played host to Macadamia Growers from across Queensland recently, invited to tour the new processing facility that Yandina-based Nutworks has acquired. Nutworks announced the exciting news of the move to the new processing facility as part of their expansion program to enable operations and processing to meet domestic and global demand for their products. “We had been planning to expand our storage at Yandina by the end of the year so this purchase in Cooroy was fortuitous for us as it provides us with so much more opportunity. Our goal is to increase our processing to 5000 tonnes annually within the next 5 years. We plan to be at the forefront technologically to allow us to value add to the macadamia industry, produce high quality products and grow profitability while still retaining our personal relationships with our growers,” said Wayne Gersbach, Nutworks CEO. One family of growers that visited was the Anderson’s from Childers. They have a sixth-generation cane farm that has been in the family for the last 110 years. They added macadamias six years ago as a supplement to the cane and were very impressed with the new facility. “We’ve been with Nutworks since we started growing six years ago. This opportunity has come along at a good time and we like the plan for Nutworks to grow while keeping the personal touch which has always been great,” said Donna. Closer to home, Craeme Cheal from Beerwah said, “It’s a spectacular purchase and gives the room for storage and processing. It will ease the pressure on the Yandina facility and give the room for expansion.” Approximately 80 macadamia farmers around Queensland provide product to Nutworks for processing and about a quarter of them were treated to a tour of the new facility which also included the launch of a new product that the Cooroy facility provides for Nutworks under the label of the Fresh Macadamia Company. This product is a unique roastedin-shell macadamia with a special cut making them easy to hand crack. The whole macadamias are dried in their shell, pre-cut and then oven roasted, or soaked in a sea salt brine and then oven roasted for a salted version. A key to open the shells utlising the cut is included in every pack. The macadamia industry is growing in Australia and Nutworks purchase puts them in a prime position to capitalise on this growth.

“Increasing our processing capacity means we can take more product from growers which is important in an industry that is expanding with many young trees set to increase production in the coming years,” said Wayne Gersbach, Nutworks CEO.

The Yandina facility will continue to run as a retail outlet as well as for roasting, chocolate coating and the confectionary line of products. More information about the Nutworks products can be found at www.nutworks.com.au.

SMART PUPS OPEN NEW CHARITY SHOP IN EUMUNDI

Rewind & Relove Boutique Eumundi is now open! Stocking vintage ware and wear, antiques and designer clothing. They also sell on consignment, giving up to 50% of the final sale price if sold in store. Call if you are interested in consignment or if you would like to volunteer at the shop. Smart Pups train assistance dogs for special needs children and don’t receive any government funding but rely on donations from the public, sponsors and funds from the Charity Shops. Wednesday and Thursday, 9am-4pm and Friday 9-1pm. Shop 7/77 Memorial Drive, Eumundi. 0438 045 558