A Wellington-born, Aboriginal owned food manufacturer is set to substantially increase its supply of Australian native biscuits and slices to corporate and travel markets, thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.
Member for Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said an $180,000 grant will help Dreamtime Tuka improve its manufacturing capacity through automating production of its biscuits and slices, creating 10 sustainable jobs in the region.
“Dreamtime Tuka is a local success story, coming from humble beginnings in Wellington. Herb Smith has created a successful company that celebrates Aboriginal culture and heritage through native food products,” Mr Saunders said.
“The company currently supplies biscuits and slices to QANTAS, and through a local partnership with Dubbo’s Earlyrise Baking Company, they will be positioned to offer more products to more airlines and put our region on the map for Australian native foods.”
Dreamtime Tuka founder and CEO Herb Smith said the upgrades will include new baking racks and trays, conveyor systems, ultrasonic slice cutter and product sorting machines, that will drastically increase production to meet the growing demand in the travel industry.
“We are over the moon to have been successful in our application,” Mr Smith said.
“This will give us the opportunity to improve our current capacity in terms of our current markets, and will also increase our opportunities for bigger markets both nationally and internationally in the future”.
The Regional Job Creation Fund supports eligible businesses with grants to purchase new equipment, expand facilities, acquire technology, create new production lines or establish businesses in regional NSW.
Round one of the Regional Job Creation Fund has now closed. A second round will open in early 2022. For more information, go to: investregionalnsw.com/RJCFund.
WHERE IN DUBBO can you puchase your products
thanks