Baiada Poultry, one of Australia’s largest poultry processors, has opened a new processing facility in Tamworth capable of processing approximately 1.5 million chickens each week. The investment builds on the company’s six-decade presence in the region and has approval to double its weekly capacity in the future.
The Facility
The site brings together multiple stages of poultry processing and features two high-capacity processing lines capable of handling up to 15,000 birds per hour.
The facility also features a state-of-the-art three-stage chilling system which includes immersion chilling, shock chilling and maturation air chilling technology. According to Baiada, it is the first system of its scale to be deployed anywhere in the world.
Investing in Tamworth
Baiada has operated in Tamworth since 1966, making the new facility a significant investment in both the company’s operations and the region’s role in Australia’s food supply. The project is expected to support skilled careers and create new opportunities for local workers while keeping Tamworth at the centre of Baiada’s operations.
“We have grown alongside this community for six decades. This facility is about ensuring Tamworth remains at the heart of our operations for decades to come, creating opportunities for local families and supporting the broader regional economy”, BAIADA Poultry managing director Simon Camilleri said.
Investing in People
Alongside its impressive processing infrastructure, the site has beendesigned to support employee wellbeing and experience.
“Technology is an important part of this facility, but it’s the people behind that technology who make our business successful,” Camilleri said.
Purpose-built employee amenities, include a gymnasium, cafeteria, breakout areas and a landscaped courtyard.
The Future of Australian Poultry
As demand for poultry products continues to grow across Australia, Baiada’s new Tamworth facility positions the company to increase production from approximately 1.5 million to an approved capacity of three million chickens per week. The investment also highlights the role of regional processing infrastructure in supporting Australia’s food supply and regional economic growth.
