Kilcoy Global Foods has partnered with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation to launch a state-of-the-art innovation hub, which will enable fast-tracking of their market intelligence and new product development capabilities.
The new facility on the Sunshine Coast will allow KGF to develop, test, evaluate and present new red meat concepts dynamically and interactively with customers and vendors.
The hub is designed to simulate global best practice in food service and retail testing facilities.
It features spaces for casual and boardroom dining, a bar/canapé space, butchery facilities with racking and a walk-in cool room, freezer, wash and dry room, and a full theatre kitchen.
Kilcoy Global Foods group chief executive officer Dean Goode said the hub was the realisation of a long-held belief that KGF and the industry deserved a facility showcasing its full capabilities.
"This world-leading innovation hub provides the whole supply chain an opportunity to develop margin growth opportunities that will ensure our industry an exciting and sustainable future," Mr Goode said.
"It is no longer acceptable for industry to sit back and do what we have always done - we need to show leadership by taking our product to market in new and innovative ways, meeting challenges head on."
"The hub will, in a short time, become the centre of excellence our industry so richly deserves."
Australian Meat Processor Corporation chief executive officer Chris Taylor said AMPC was excited to support the initiative, which he said had a lot to offer the entire red meat industry, including processors.
"Australian processors have some of the highest operating costs in the world - 24 per cent higher than the US, 75pc higher than Argentina, and double those of Brazil," he said.
"But delivering cost efficiencies is only one element of a competitive and sustainable supply chain, and it's encouraging to see commercial participants partnering with R&D providers to grow the top line.
"Kilcoy Global Foods must be congratulated for taking the lead on such a valuable initiative."
Meat & Livestock Australia managing director Jason Strong said the new facility was an exciting and innovative re-imagining of how to showcase the industry's world-leading production system, from farm to fork.
"This facility is the culmination of strong collaboration across the supply chain in rethinking our approach to our global customers," Mr Strong said.
"During the next three years Kilcoy Global Foods will pilot different approaches to using the facility, compiling a number of case studies and lessons learnt, which will be made available to the broader industry.
"Importantly, the facility will be also be open to red meat industry participants to hire, with up to 25 days a year allocated to external parties to book and enjoy the facility."
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said Queensland was a natural choice for the hub, given the state's position as the leading Australian beef producer.
"The Queensland beef export industry is Australia's powerhouse - worth $5.8 billion last year alone," Mr Furner said. "In the past twelve months, across many industries, we have seen how innovative Queenslanders are."
The innovation hub was launched during a recent event at Beef 2021.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
