State-of-the-Art Facility Set to Boost WA’s Poultry and Pig Production Capacity
Weston Animal Nutrition (WAN) has officially inaugurated its new feed mill located in Hope Valley, near Kwinana, Western Australia. This cutting-edge facility nearly doubles the production capacity of Weston’s previous plant in Bentley, situated in Perth’s southern suburbs. The new mill is a significant step forward for the state’s poultry and pig production sectors, supporting both domestic markets and export opportunities.
The $100-million investment marks Weston Animal Nutrition as the largest domestic buyer of grain in Western Australia, offering a crucial alternative to traditional export pathways. This development is complemented by WAN’s existing site at Canning Vale bakery, which produces approximately 90 percent of the state’s bread products.
According to WAN General Manager Ian Fairbairn, the Hope Valley mill is designed to address the growing demand for high-quality animal feed. “This new facility is a tremendous vote of confidence in the future of WA’s agriculture industry, particularly within animal production for export markets,” Mr. Fairbairn stated.
The facility has already made a substantial impact on the local economy. The construction phase, which began in early 2021, created over 200 direct jobs. The ongoing operations of the mill are expected to sustain 35 full-time positions and generate an additional 215 indirect jobs. Furthermore, the mill is projected to contribute approximately $37 million annually to the local economy.
With a processing capacity of over 430,000 tonnes of grain and an output of 655,000 tonnes of feed per year, the new mill is set to significantly benefit farmers and regional communities across Western Australia. The WA Minister for Agriculture and Food, Jackie Jarvis, praised the mill’s opening as a positive indicator of the state’s pork and poultry industries. “Our support for local downstream processing and manufacturing of WA grains underscores our commitment to assisting local farmers and enhancing domestic feed production,” she noted. The state government has provided $700,000 through the Value Add Investment Grant program to support this substantial investment.
Weston Animal Nutrition and its parent company, George Weston Foods, continue to be key players in the Australian and New Zealand markets, with over 70 years of operational experience.
