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Western Sydney emerges as food and grocery powerhouse

ID:228161287

Western Sydney is now a powerhouse for food and grocery manufacturing, generating A$17 billion per year and employing 24,400 workers, according to research released today by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).

Parramatta is the food and grocery manufacturing capital of Sydney, employing 4,980 workers, followed by Blacktown (4,176), Canterbury Bankstown (3,914), Cumberland (2,984), Liverpool (2,154), Campbelltown (2,113), Fairfield (2,081), Penrith (1,428) and Camden (562).

AFGC CEO, Tanya Barden, said Western Sydney’s 2.1 million population is expected to grow by 1 million people over the next 18 years, and so it is critical to have jobs available.

“We are constantly being told that manufacturing in Australia is on its knees, but food and grocery manufacturing in Western Sydney is growing rapidly,” Barden said. “Since 2011, a total of 1,200 new jobs have been created across Blacktown, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield and Penrith. Importantly, these jobs allow residents to live and work in their own neighbourhoods, rather than facing a long-haul commute into the city, which takes pressure off our public transport and road networks.”

AFGC said that Western Sydney exports A$2.5 billion of food and grocery manufacturing products a year and sells a further A$5.7 billion to interstate and domestic regional markets. Between 2016 and 2017, international exports grew by 10.1 per cent.

“Food and grocery manufacturing has the fifth largest output of all industries in Western Sydney, paying $138 million per annum in tax. We should all be thankful of the critical role that food and grocery manufacturing plays in supporting our lifestyles by putting food on our tables, and delivering the highest quality hygiene and personal care products,” Barden said.

The salaries pump A$1.9 billion into the Western Sydney economy annually, an average of A$80,000 for full time and part time worker. Western Sydney food and grocery manufacturing businesses employ 24,391 workers which puts the sector as the 11th largest jobs provider in Western Sydney. The sector contributes A$17.2 billion in annual output and more than A$2.5 billion in international exports.

Barden said Australians should be proud as the food manufacturing sector creates jobs and is a major contributor to the national economy, particularly with parts of the state battling drought conditions.

“Food and grocery manufacturing employers in Western Sydney range from major global companies like Campbell Arnott’s in Huntingwood and Kimberly-Clark in Ingleburn, through to strong Australian brands like Coca-Cola Amatil in Northmead and smaller mum and dad operations. All these operations are dedicated to ensuring the safety and highest quality of their products,” she said.

Table 1: Food and Grocery Employment numbers by local government area

 

Table 2: Economic contribution

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