Production has officially started at Suntory’s $400-plus million multi-beverage manufacturing facility in Queensland, Australia. This marks a significant milestone in the global drinks giant’s growth strategy, with its new $3 billion partnership, Suntory Oceania set to launch from mid-2025.
The 17-hectare site will power the partnership as the new manufacturing and distribution hub for the company’s multi-beverage portfolio of over 40 market leading brands. The site has the capacity to hold over 50,000 pallets of product, with a high-speed glass line and two canning lines that fill at an industry-leading speed of 180,000 cans per hour.
Australia’s “number one” energy drink, V Energy, was the first product off the line. By mid-2025, the facility will also produce Suntory’s iconic Ready-To-Drink (RTD) alcohol brands, including -196, Canadian Club and Dry®, and Jim Beam and Cola®.
Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania CEO Darren Fullerton said he was proud to see Suntory’s first Australian facility built, the largest FMCG investment into the country in the last decade.
“The start of production at our world-class facility represents a pivotal moment for Suntory Oceania. We are excited about the growth this will unlock for Suntory in the region, and the opportunities we will be able to offer our people, our customers, and our consumers,” Mr Fullerton said.
“Full ownership of our supply chain will enable more capacity, more control and most importantly, more opportunity to innovate. With this new site we are well positioned to disrupt and ignite the category with our full multi-beverage offering.”
The facility boasts strong sustainability credentials with a combination of renewable energy sources via 14 kilometres of solar panels and a power-purchase agreement with Queensland electricity provider, CleanCo. This, combined with sustainable heating and cooling technology and onsite waste management and water recycling facilities sets a benchmark for sustainable manufacturing.
“Our Queensland operation will be entirely carbon neutral,” says Mr Fullerton. “This commitment to sustainability and Growing for Good goes to the heart of Suntory’s DNA and I’m so proud that we can deliver on this commitment here in Oceania.”
Suntory Global Spirits Oceania Managing Director Mark Hill says the team is looking forward to the next phase of commissioning, enabling the manufacturing and distribution of Suntory’s alcohol portfolio.
“Our Queensland facility complements our global production footprint, which includes distilleries and bottling sites in North America, Europe, and Japan, and will expand our capability and capacity to deliver for our customers like never before,” Mr Hill said.
“This facility is central to Suntory Oceania, and we are thrilled to be harnessing the region’s great local talent, strong infrastructure and connectivity to power this next phase of growth.”
Suntory brands are recognised globally for their quality and craftsmanship, embodying a legacy of excellence. In addition to the RTD range, the prestigious ‘House of Suntory’ portfolio will be distributed from Queensland, including luxury whiskies Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Hibiki, alongside Roku Gin and Haku Vodka.
Suntory’s Queensland facility is set to officially open in mid-2025 in line with the commencement of alcohol production and the Suntory Oceania partnership.
