CSIRO supports food industry innovation
If you’re a food and beverage manufacturer, did you know you can use the facilities at CSIRO’s Food Innovation Centre at Werribee to develop innovative food products?
Aware that the global demand for healthy, convenient, safe new products is at an all-time high, the team at Matthews Steer staged a Research Meets Innovation & Entrepreneurship event at CSIRO on April 7 to introduce clients to the facilities and opportunities offered at the facility.
CSIRO’s Lloyd Simonds introduced the facility and shared insight into the organisation’s growth since it was founded in 1916. To date, CSIRO has worked with 1,200 food and beverage companies to generate more than $200-million in ingredient and product sales locally and in export markets.
Companies use CSIRO’s manufacturing equipment to develop and launch new products, and collaborate with CSIRO on breakthrough food technologies.
Supported by world-class science, the organisation strives to enable local companies to innovate to meet the demand for safer, fresher, healthier and more sustainable foods.
Participants toured the facility before hearing from Matthews Steer Director Colin McLeod of the Melbourne Business School, who highlighted how vitally important it is for Australian business to embrace innovation in an economic climate where graduate unemployment is high, Australia has a very high low-income indicator, and the gap between haves and have-nots is growing.
Over lunch, the CEO of Preshafood Alistair McLachlan, highlighted the ways in which his company has collaborated with the CSIRO in the development of their juice, baby food and smoothies range.
CSIRO assisted the Preshafood team to grow their business and implement innovations including lengthening the shelf life on their products. They now distribute to Coles, Woolworths, ALDI and Costco and predicted turnover for 2018 is $20-million.
Matthews Steer CEO Ken Matthews gave a presentation on Project Engage, the practice’s cutting-edge business efficiency program that provides clients improved price certainty, minimizes disruption, and ensures there are no surprises come tax time.
An integral part of Matthews Steer’s strategic focus on maintaining and nurturing a pool of local talent to support natural long-term growth at the firm, while maintaining high quality service delivery for clients, Project Engage has reduced the firm’s turn-around times by 27.5% and reduced staff turnover to 4.5%, approximately one third of the industry average.
Event sponsor Bank West’s David Considine wrapped up the event before attendees enjoyed a light lunch featuring juices from the Preshafood range.
If you are interested in attending future Matthews Steer innovation events please email info@matsteer.com.au