WESTERN Australian company, D’Orsogna Limited, has begun construction of a $66 million food manufacturing facility at Merrifield Business Park, 30km north of Melbourne.
The 10,858 square metre will employ 240 people and is expected to establish D’Orsogna as a national market leader in the smallgoods and meat protein food sector.
D’Orsogna managing director Brad Thomason said D’Orsogna had made the investment after first establishing a manufacturing footprint at Mt Waverley, Victoria 10 years ago.
“On behalf of the D’Orsogna Board and family members, including two of my fellow directors, Eugene and Marco D’Orsogna, it gives me great pleasure to now see the D’Orsogna name, brand and products so firmly establishing on the east coast,” he said.
The D’Orsogna family first had a presence in Melbourne in 1947 when Eugene’s father, Tommaso and Marco’s father, Giovanni worked there in the food and hospitality industry for two years before returning to Perth to open a small family butcher shop in West Perth in 1949.
In 2018 D’Orsogna employs more than 550 people and is one of the most recognisable brands at Woolworths, Coles, Metcash and food service businesses across Australia.
The launch and sod turning ceremony at the 3ha, greenfield site was attended by Victorian Minister for Industry and Employment, Ben Carroll.