Location is playing an increasingly important role in FMCG business performance. Access to skilled labour, efficient logistics, innovation partners and resilient supply chains influences how effectively businesses can compete and scale. In Melbourne’s north, the City of Whittlesea has developed into a significant food and beverage cluster, home to a wide range of FMCG businesses, with a compelling value proposition for future growth.
A high-performing economy
The food and beverage sector in the City of Whittlesea makes a significant contribution to Victoria’s economy. In FY2023–24, more than 1300 local food and beverage businesses generated $3.14 billion in total production, value added $1.3 billion and provided more than 12,000 jobs, representing 36 per cent of the municipality’s total exports.
This scale reflects decades of development, creating a sophisticated and interlinked industry cluster where businesses benefit from experienced suppliers, embedded networks and sector-specific expertise.
Strategic industrial precincts built for scale
Food and beverage activity in the region is largely concentrated in the industrial precincts of Thomastown and Epping. These areas are home to a diverse mix of product and service businesses across dairy, meat, poultry, baked goods, beverages and prepared foods.
Recognised brands Bertocchi, Inghams, Jalna Dairy Foods, Mission Foods, Edlyn Foods, Australian Food Industries, Turosi, Heatherbrae Baked Goods, 7 Chefs, and Chris’ Dips, along with specialist producers such as Core Powerfoods, That’s Amore Cheese and Floridia Cheese, all call the area home. This concentration of large-scale operators provides a stable base of demand for logistics, packaging, ingredient supply, professional services, and other links in the local supply chain.
Connectivity and supply chain capacity
Transport access is a key feature of the City of Whittlesea’s operating environment. Located 21 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD and 20 kilometres from Melbourne Airport, the municipality forms part of Melbourne’s northern growth corridor. Direct access to major arterial roads, nine metropolitan train stations and an extensive bus network meets industry and workforce transport needs.
The Melbourne Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Market in Epping is a major supply chain asset, recording around $2 billion in annual fresh produce turnover. Proximity to the market supports efficient sourcing, faster turnaround times and improved supply chain resilience for processors, wholesalers and logistics providers.
Currently under construction, the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct will improve national and international freight connections and support long-term supply chain efficiency.
Innovation, skills and workforce development
A strong skills pipeline remains central to the performance of the local food and beverage sector. Partnerships with local leading education providers RMIT University, Melbourne Polytechnic, and nearby La Trobe University enable industry-aligned training, research collaboration and a future-ready local workforce.
The RMIT Food Research and Innovation Centre further supports the development and commercialisation of high-value, export-ready food products. This world-class facility enables FMCG businesses to innovate, improve productivity and respond to changing consumer preferences while remaining competitive in global markets.
A growing base of premium and specialist brands
The City of Whittlesea is also home to a large and growing number of boutique and specialist food producers and providers, reflective of the resident community’s diverse cultural mix. This results in an impressive range of locally made products and a point of substantial market differentiation. Businesses such as That’s Amore Cheese, Floridia Cheese, Barkly Smokehouse and many others have grown their markets considerably over time.
Recent investment in the multimillion-dollar boutique winery, restaurant and function space Five Vineyard in Mernda adds to the area’s mix of food and beverage activity, supporting premium production and experience-based offerings.
Policy certainty and business support
Local industry growth is further shaped by the long-term planning and policy direction of the City of Whittlesea Council. Strategic frameworks prioritise employment and upskilling, as well as industry innovation, sustainability and resilience, as critical pathways to long-term economic stability and growth benefits for the resident and business community.
A location that supports FMCG investment
Established activity centres, strong logistics connectivity, a growing skilled population, innovation partnerships, and a highly developed industry base make the City of Whittlesea one of Australia’s most compelling environments for food and beverage businesses seeking to establish, expand or diversify. For FMCG manufacturers and suppliers, it represents a location where scale, efficiency and opportunity converge.
“Relocating my business to Epping was a turning point. We’re now exporting to a growing number of countries and increasing manufacturing capacity,” said Michelle Anderson-Sims, owner of Wine In a Glass.
“Access to trade routes, a skilled local workforce and strong infrastructure continue to support our growth,” said Amir Arjmand, CEO, Edlyn Foods.
- Learn more at whittlesea.vic.gov.au/InvestOpps.
