Staff writers
A TRARALGON family-owned dairy processor has been given a $62,500 state government grant to expand its facilities and employ more staff.
Village Dairy was awarded the Regional Recovery Fund to upgrade its cool room and deliver on a lucrative yoghurt packaging deal.
The Princes Highway cheese and yoghurt manufacturer has hired four new staff to run the equipment taking its workforce to 18 and is looking to take on more workers.
“The Victorian government’s investment meant we had the resources we needed to fill our biggest ever contract,” Village Dairy business manager Gavin Hunter said.
“And with our plans to export to Asia and production at capacity already, we plan to have even more jobs at Village Dairy to support the Latrobe Valley.”
Village Dairy had expanded its operations from Dandenong to Traralgon in 2019, moving into the former Brancourts site keeping on 13 workers.
It produces a range of products including pot set, Indian Dahi, Ayran and Greek yoghurts, as well as Mango lassi, paneer, feta and haloumi.
Regional Development Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the financial support meant the business had the equipment to supply increasing demand from Asian markets in the coming year.
“Village Dairy is a great regional success story and we are proud to support the company so it can diversify, grow and create more jobs for people in the Latrobe Valley,” Ms Thomas said.
The dairy manufacturer has also received government support to semi-automate its cheese-packaging processes to allow staff to work at a safe social distance.
