PRODUCTION has started at Suntory’s $400 million facility at Swanbank.
The 17-hectare site has the capacity to hold more than 50,000 pallets of product, with a high-speed glass line and two canning lines that fill 180,000 cans an hour.
Suntory Beverage and Food Oceania CEO Darren Fullerton said the start of production was a pivotal moment for Suntory Oceania.
“We are excited about the growth this will unlock for Suntory in the region, and the opportunities we will be able to offer our people, our customers, and our consumers,” he said.
“Full ownership of our supply chain will enable more capacity, more control and, most importantly, more opportunity to innovate.”
Suntory Global Spirits Oceania Mark Hill Managing Director said the team looked forward to the next phase of manufacturing and distribution of Suntory’s alcohol portfolio.
“Our Queensland facility complements our global production footprint, which includes distilleries and bottling sites in North America, Europe, and Japan, and will expand our capability and capacity to deliver for our customers like never before,” Mr Hill said.
Suntory’s Queensland facility is set to officially open in mid-2025 in line with the commencement of alcohol production and the Suntory Oceania partnership.
Fast facts on Suntory Oceania’s Queensland facility:
• Manufacturing and distribution hub for Suntory’s entire multi-beverage portfolio of 40 brands.
• Over 20 brands to be made in Queensland by Queenslanders.
• The facility spans 17 hectares (the equivalent of 17 rugby fields).
• The operation with 7,000 solar panels measuring 14 kilometres in length when laid end-to-end.
• The site has the capacity to produce over 180,000 cans per hour.
• The construction of the site delivered over 450 construction jobs, with over 2,000 people inducted onto site throughout the build.
• The facility will deliver 160 new permanent roles to support the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of the portfolio.
