John Dee beefs up
MAJOR employer John Dee has officially opened a massive expansion of its Warwick meat-processing facility, which is set to create almost 300 new jobs and significantly boost the factory’s production.
The Rosehill Rd site now boasts a new regional cold store area and improved technology such as an automated storage and retrieval system, with the upgrades forming part of a staged development worth more than $25m in total.
It is estimated the final project will create up to 155 new full-time jobs and another 138 indirect full-time roles in addition to the existing 630 jobs at the company.
With the massive development attracting millions of dollars in funding from the state and federal governments, John Dee CEO Warren Stiff said opening the expansion marked the conclusion of a project five years in the making.
“This state-of-the-art facility allows us to store, retrieve, and consign Australia’s best beef brands direct from John Dee to the world’s most discerning customers,” Mr Stiff said.
“The project also allows us to significantly expand our processing numbers and provide further employment opportunities on the Southern Downs long into the future.
“From feasibility modelling, design, grant application, finance, (to) construction and commissioning, a hardworking team from within John Dee and external specialists worked together to bring together what we see today.”
John Dee remains Australia’s oldest single-familyowned meat processing facility, with this latest development completed by Brisbane-based company Wiley.
The expansion was officially opened on Thursday.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said he was thrilled to see the area attract such significant funding.
“It is a great credit to the Hart family, who have invested so much in the region and have the confidence and foresight to continue to invest in our future,” he said.
John Dee is one of the region’s largest employers and income generators, with the company turning over an estimated $86.54m at its Warwick site.