07 August 2001 - In the 80th year of Cadbury Schweppes' operation in Tasmania, the company has announced it will invest $25 million in upgrading the production facilities in its Cadbury Claremont chocolate factory.
The $25 million upgrade represents the largest single investment for the company in Australia within the last 7 years. The investment will be used to replace equipment with two high-speed, state of the art chocolate making plants.
Cadbury Schweppes Managing Director, Confectionery Australia New Zealand, Mark Smith explained that the investment represents a substantial long-term commitment to the Claremont site.
"Cadbury Claremont is one of the major employers in the state of Tasmania and we currently employ around 900 people. We've enjoyed a long-term commitment through our operations in Tasmania, which continue to add value to the Tasmanian community through local industry, tourism and employment." Mr Smith said.
"Our investment to upgrade Cadbury Claremont will ensure the facility will become a centre of excellence in Asia Pacific for chocolate making and wrapping by using best practice and world-class technology."
Mr Smith also added that the project to introduce the two new plants would entail substantial investment in training and development of all of the Cadbury Claremont employees.
The installation of the two new plants is scheduled for completion by the end of 2002 and is expected to increase production volumes at Cadbury Claremont by more than 10 per cent.
"Our plant upgrade in Cadbury Claremont will poise the company even more powerfully for future growth, " concluded Mr Smith.
Cadbury Schweppes will celebrate 80 years of operation in Tasmania on October 21, 2001. The company contributes more than $76 million to the State's economy each year. The company's Claremont factory is the second most popular (paying) tourist destination in the State. It also owns and operates a milk processing plant in Burnie that uses about 13 percent of the State's milk production, which creates the famous 'glass and half of full cream dairy milk' in every Australian Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate block.