Sweet and savoury food maker Priestley’s Gourmet Delights has opened a new AI-powered facility to boost productivity, improve processes, and drive growth.
Located in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge, the site uses mobile autonomous robots to streamline operations such as baking, stack products onto baking racks, and move the racks around the facility. This, in turn, doubles production capacity and ensures employee safety by reducing the need for repetitive manual labour.
The company said its employees remain an integral part of the operation, with staff still involved in hand decorating, selecting ingredients, tasting, and quality control.
Moreover, staff whose jobs are now automated are being upskilled towards high-value roles, which the company says allows them to develop expertise and drive innovation for future products and processes.
The new $53 million, 7740sqm facility will also support Priestley’s expansion into the retail sector, creating approximately 56 new full-time equivalent roles across the company by 2026.
Xanny Christophersen, MD and CEO of Priestley’s Gourmet Delights, said the technology would allow the company to boost productivity while growing its people.
“As the founder’s niece, I’ve watched the business grow over the years, and our new facility is a testament not only to her drive but to the hard work of all of our employees,” she continued.
“This increased productivity means that we’re able to retail an exciting new range of products directly to consumers for the first time – meaning they can indulge in a sweet treat whenever they feel like it.”
