A new economic snapshot released this week has found that the food and grocery manufacturing industry in South East Queensland has generated more than $7.5 billion last year.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s South East Queensland Economic Snapshot 2018/2019 showed that the food and grocery manufacturing industry generated $7.68 billion in 2018, representing 29.1% of South East Queensland’s manufacturing output.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said numbers showed that the industry is a vitally important contributor to the local economy.
“The report shows the food and grocery manufacturing industry employed nearly 12,000 people across the region in 2018, representing 19.4 per cent of all manufacturing jobs and two per cent of total jobs in South East Queensland,” the Minister noted.
“The Morrison Government is determined to support local manufacturing, by building on our strengths and grasping new opportunities using new technologies to create high value jobs.
“This report demonstrates that with the right settings in place, the industry will continue to grow from strength to strength.”
Minister Andrews attended the launch of the report at the Vege Chip Company in Currumbin on the Gold Coast.
“It was fantastic to meet with workers of this successful business, which has grown from humble market beginnings to distributing its products across Australia and overseas,” Minister Andrews continued.
“This company in my electorate is a great example of what Queensland food and beverage manufacturing businesses can achieve when they combine an innovative idea with hard work and perseverance.”
The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s South East Queensland Economic Snapshot 2018/2019 is available at www.afgc.org.au
