Aug 27 2010 --- National Foods announced it will undertake an extensive review of its cheese manufacturing operations across Australia.

The sites included in this review are Simpson and Campbellfield in Victoria, Jervois and Murray Bridge in South Australia, Kings Meadows, Burnie, King Island and Heidi Farm in Tasmania and Malanda in Queensland.

The Allansford cheese manufacturing site in Victoria recently underwent a review and new supply agreement put in place with Warrnambool Cheese and Butter therefore will not be part of this project.

National Foods’ cheese manufacturing business has evolved through brand and site acquisitions during the past 10 years and to ensure it remains a leading producer of everyday and speciality cheeses we must provide capital investment into our operations.

The review will consider the duplication in our network, the long-term viability and sustainability of our sites and will look at innovation, technology and current and future environmental requirements.

For now, it is very much business at usual at all of the sites under review. Our people, product quality and safety remain our key focus now and in the future.

We expect that the review will be finalised in February 2011 although some improvement opportunities may be identified and implemented in the meantime.