Adelaide-based food manufacturer Safcol Australia has opened a new $11 million purpose-built fish market at Thebarton in Adelaide's western suburbs, replacing the former Mile End Market with modern auction facilities, digital traceability systems and upgraded refrigeration infrastructure.
The opening comes on the back of the company last week breaking ground on a separate $80 million purpose-built food manufacturing facility at Edinburgh in Adelaide's north, marking a combined $91 million investment blitz by the 81-year-old manufacturer.
The new fish market at 36 West Thebarton Road features three auction stands and a digital auction and traceability system designed to modernise the seafood supply chain.
The $11 million investment covers the land purchase and construction of the facility.
Safcol Australia CEO Andrew Mitchell says the fish market investment is about supporting the fishing communities that underpin the state's seafood industry.
"The fish market is an important service that supports local fishermen, seafood wholesalers, retailers and restaurateurs. It helps ensure the freshest possible seafood reaches South Australian consumers," he says.
"Fish sold through our market at 6am can be served on a plate in a South Australian home or restaurant that same evening. Some seafood is transported interstate and can be enjoyed in Sydney the following day.
"By providing this service, we help deliver high quality, fresh Australian seafood to consumers while supporting the livelihoods of local fishermen."
Safcol new Edinburgh facility currently under construction addresses what the company says are long-standing challenges around energy costs and infrastructure that had constrained the company's competitiveness.
Safcol's existing sustainability initiatives have reduced carbon emissions by about 240 tonnes annually and cut water usage by around 136 million litres per year, metrics the company has flagged as a benchmark for the new Edinburgh facility.
Safcol manufactures around 60 per cent of Australia's wet baby food supply, alongside soups, canned vegetables, seafood products and products for major supermarket and national food brands.
The company, owned by Thai parent Tropical Canning (Thailand), also produces its own South Australian Gourmet Foods range and Australian canned abalone for export markets.
The twin investments land at a time when South Australian food and beverage manufacturing accounts for nearly half of all manufacturing activity in the state and about 3 per cent of the state's economy.
Nationally, however, domestic manufacturing's share of industry value-added has contracted from 9.7 per cent in 2011-12 to 6.3 per cent in 2021-22.
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