National sweet and savoury food supplier and manufacturer Priestley’s Gourmet Delights has officially launched its new state-of-the-art facility based in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge.
In a “first” for the sector, the new Priestley’s Gourmet Delights facility is a data-led ‘smart’ factory which can instantly harness real-time data to boost productivity, improve processes and drive growth. “Mobile autonomous robots streamline the baking process – stacking product onto baking racks as well as safely moving the racks around the facility – doubling production capacity and ensuring safety of employees by reducing the need for repetitive manual tasks,” the company said.
“Priestley’s employees remain an integral part of the company with staff involved in everything from hand decorating the products and selecting ingredients to tasting and quality control.” Employees whose jobs are now automated are being upskilled towards higher-value roles which will enable them to develop their expertise and drive innovation of future products and processes.
The new $53 million, 7740sqm facility will also support Priestley’s expansion into the retail sector, creating approximately 56 new FTE roles across the company by 2026.
With a well-established legacy spanning 28 years, the company’s new facility is a centre of excellence for dessert and savoury production. “With a 55% increase on the footprint of the company’s previous premises and equipped with best-in-class automation and machine learning technologies, it sets a new benchmark for sweet and savoury food production.”
Priestley’s Gourmet Delights MD and CEO Xanny Christophersen says: “It’s fantastic to be at the helm of such an innovative company. As the niece of the founder, I’ve watched the business grow over the years and our new facility is testament not only to her drive but the hard work of all of our employees.
“The technology we’re harnessing will allow us to boost productivity while also enabling us to grow our people – supporting them to upskill and creating a substantial number of new jobs for Queenslanders, as well as adding to the state’s economy. 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.”
Priestley’s Gourmet Delights will launch a new range of five indulgent desserts into independent retail chains Drakes Supermarkets and Ritchies IGA, with the view to expand to additional outlets across Australia. The range will include individually packaged cakes and tarts, perfect for indulgent ‘me time’ moments.