THE number of staffers at Kooka’s Country Cookies is set to rise following backing from the state government.
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The Donald biscuit manufacturer is planning to expand to a new and larger facility within the town, which is home to about 1500 people.
The state government this morning announced its support for the company’s $1.7 million investment, with a contribution of about $350,000 from its Regional Jobs Fund.
“Not only is the funding in the new facility going to open the business to new markets, and increase financial turnover, it will create 11 new jobs for this local business,” Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford said.
The 11 additional full-time roles will bring the total number to 28.
“Kooka’s is an icon in regional Victoria and they are a small business success story we are so proud to support,” Ms Pulford said.
Kooka’s spokeswoman Kerry Vogel said the staff were ‘very excited and completely over the moon’.
“Basically this will put us three years ahead of schedule,” she said.
“This will give everyone in the Donald community confidence and it will give our local economy a boost.”
The new Kooka’s site will feature an extra production line and an area for making gluten free biscuits.
“Gluten free is something we’ve been looking at doing for a long time and we haven’t been able to do it at our current facility because of space restrictions,” Ms Vogel said.
“This new factory will have to be segregated.”
It will also have an extra amenities block and maintenance shed and energy-saving technology.
Ms Vogel said Kooka’s had already bought a block of land in Donald to build the new factory.
“It’s always been in our plans to build a new site,” she said.
“Hopefully we will have started building by September, but it will take a very long time for everything to be completed.”
The company is relying on sales to raise the remaining $1.35 million for the project.
“We’re just hoping that people still continue to support us and buy our products,” Ms Vogel said.
“It’s been a long haul to get this far, and our plans are to keep expanding and supporting the local community.”
Kooka’s has been operating from its Sunraysia Highway site since it was founded, 28 years ago.
The company is owned by 15 shareholders, most of whom live in Donald, and serves as both an important employer and a source of tourism for the community.
A move by Woolworths last year to stop stocking Kooka’s biscuits in supermarkets outside of Victoria and Tasmania was met with public indignation.
The Donald company responded by broadening its market by signing up with online retailers MegaFresh and Aussie Farmers Direct.
Aussie Farmers Direct has since gone into voluntary administration, and YourGrocer.com.au has taken on their cause.
“Last year we launched a vocal campaign calling on the major retailers to prioritise Kooka’s and Victorian made produce – I am so pleased these local jobs are protected and now growing,” Ms Pulford said.
- with the Wimmera Mail-Times
