Casalare Pasta: everything we want in Kyabram
One year on and Nancy and Barry Hewitt of Casalare Specialty Pasta Pty Ltd are still finding plenty of reasons to break out the champagne over their re-location to the Goulburn Valley township of Kyabram in Campaspe Shire.
“Kyabram, as a business location for us met our criteria and offered more benefits than anywhere else in Victoria and the Shire made us feel extremely welcome,” said Nancy.
Casalare Specialty Pasta Pty Ltd manufactures pastas in many varieties, including certified organic and gluten-free ranges. They distribute to supermarkets, wholesalers and health food outlets throughout Australia, Asia and New Zealand and contract-manufacture for leading distributors and food processors.
It had operated since 1988 in South Gippsland, but had outgrown the premises. With assistance from Campaspe’s Economic Development Manager Katrina Tehan, the company moved to the industrial estate at Kyabram in May 2005.
They say the Kyabram site offered:
- The “huge bonus” of location in an active, dynamic food processing area where there is more regular contact with suppliers and large potential customers
- Access to skilled contractors and tradies who had skills in engineering for food manufacturing, IT and electronics
- The right conditions for gaining the many quality accreditations they need to secure sales and exports
- The chance to double output using new equipment
- TAFE Training centre close by, providing the right courses in food production for factory employees and in administration and frontline management for the office staff
- A clean, fresh, sunny atmosphere suited to a food processing enterprise
- Choice and flexibility with freight companies
- Room to grow their business in the future
- A town that suited their banking, shopping and leisure needs
A further plus factor is the cooperative country attitude the Hewitt’s have found. “Suppliers here are more willing and accommodating than in Melbourne,” said Nancy. “For instance, one will keep carton packs in their own warehouse and allow us to draw from that as needed, so that helps our cash flow and storage.”
Nancy and Barry are enjoying local gym and golf facilities, and Nancy is continuing her degree studies by distance education. Three dedicated employees moved with them and have also settled into life in Kyabram. The company now employs 10 fulltime and permanent part-time workers.
“Katrina Tehan in particular, as Economic Development Manager, has been most helpful in every way, including referring us to a consultant to assist in developing a sales strategy” said Nancy.
“We keep saying to ourselves, what a really good move it has been.”
Website: www.casalare.com.au
Information on assistance: Shire of Campaspe Economic Development Unit - (03) 5481 2200
