Keppel Brand to increase operations with Queensland funding

Convenience hotbox food products distributor Keppel Brand is set to receive funding from Australia’s Queensland Government to enhance its operations.

The government has agreed to provide funding in A$372,148 from the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Programme to the company.

Keppel Brand will use the funding to purchase food processing and packaging equipment to expand its portfolio.

Queensland Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher said: “This new equipment will set up Keppel Brand to develop a new range of coated beef products for the Australian and export foodservice and retail markets.

“The equipment will also modernise the company’s existing manufacturing processes, making them more competitive and delivering more consistent products.

“While the company projects an initial six additional jobs because of the grant, this could potentially lead to further employment opportunities if the new lines are successful in the market.”

Keppel Brand is engaged in the distribution of convenience hot box food products for more than three decades. Its product range includes Keppel dogs, crumbed and continental sausages.

The company’s food products are currently being distributed to more than 18,000 food outlet customers across Australia.

Keppel Brand director Mark Davie said that the new product portfolio will allow the company to expand into markets, including new retail markets interstate, as well as the overseas markets.

Davie added: “This project will help introduce more Australian beef into the takeaway, convenience and foodservice markets and with Central Queensland being home to the largest beef herd in Australia, we want to showcase our region’s best-known product.”