Food manufacturing may not sound glamorous, but for many of us, it’s vital to our survival.
After all, most of the food that we eat has been prepared to some extent in a factory or processing plant.
Food and beverage processing is actually Australia’s largest manufacturing industry, and our exports are in high demand globally too. This comes as little surprise, considering that Australia has a reputation for producing clean and natural food products.
So, what is food manufacturing?
Food manufacturing is the process of creating food products, beverages or supplements that are ready to sell to consumers. Manufacturers purchase ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, dairy products and nuts – which are then blended, prepared and packaged in a factory or processing plant.
The tasks are varied, depending on the product being prepared. For instance, one manufacturer may specialise in slaughtering and cutting meat, while another focuses on canning and preserving fruits, or making bread and other bakery goods.
What is contract food manufacturing?
Many businesses don’t have the resources or funds to manufacture and package quality products in a timely manner. In such cases, it makes sense to outsource manufacturing to a company that specialises in producing foods, beverages or supplements for a particular industry.
Rather than starting from scratch to set up and run a factory; the client takes advantage of the manufacturer’s expertise, equipment and optimised labour processes.
The contract manufacturer handles as little or as much of the manufacturing and packaging process that’s requested by the client. A formal agreement is entered into, but the nature of this contract varies, depending on the services agreed upon.
Examples of food contract manufacturing services include:
- Produce and package all of the goods based on the formula and instructions provided by the client.
- Product development is outsourced to the manufacturer too.
- Handle only parts of the manufacturing (for example, during periods of high consumer demand).
- Supply labour only. – Hire out the facility to be used by the client (labour not provided).
Why are food contract manufacturers so good at what they do?
Food manufacturing companies don’t need to worry about marketing or selling a product. Their sole focus is on creating and maintaining highly efficient and reliable manufacturing processes. They often do this on a mass scale, which means they’re able to pass on significant savings to clients.
The best manufacturing companies can be trusted to consistently produce and package quality products because they have decades of experience, highly regulated systems and independent accreditation.
Are you looking to engage a contract food manufacturer?
Omniblend has more than 40 years of experience in contract food manufacturing.
We’re an A-rated facility, as certified by Australian state and federal authorities. This is because our blending techniques are reliable, we use modern equipment and all of our systems meet the highest standards (this covers exporting too).
Our team would love to see if we can help your company produce food or nutraceutical products that customers love.
If you would like more information, or to arrange a meeting, please contact us on (03) 9358 6388