Juice squeezes in

Nearly half a million apples and oranges will be processed a day from Axis Industrial Park when Grove Fruit Juice opens its new factory in Warwick in October.
The relocation from Brisbane to Warwick will allow Grove to quadruple its capacity within the next four years and could mean more than 60 job vacancies for the Southern Downs.
Owner Greg Willis said the move to Warwick is planned in two stages.
“The first stage will involve moving the fruit processing and we will initially employ four to six people,” Mr Willis said.
“It will also support a large network for fresh fruit and waste transport,” he said.
“Stage two is subject to local or State Government support and will involve moving our entire packaging and distribution business from Brisbane to Warwick.
“This will mean more than 60 jobs for Warwick’s local community.”
The relocation and expansion will increase Grove’s production of citrus and apples from 18,000 tonnes per year to 72,000 tonnes in four years’ time.
It was Warwick’s strategic position that also attracted Mr Willis to the area.
“Warwick is a suitable location, mainly because of its geographical proximity to fruit sources and reduced logistic costs,” he said.
“Warwick is perfectly positioned midway between Australia’s summer and winter citrus growing areas. It was also affordable land costs which drew us to the region.”
Construction of the new factory at the Kenilworth Street estate began last month and is due to be completed by the end of September.
Axis Industrial Park Developer and force behind the Trans Regional Amalgamated Infrastructure Network (TRAIN), Dave Cooke, said he was excited to see Grove setting up home in Warwick.
“Warwick is set to become a huge distribution hub, which will mean a boost in jobs, tourism and investment for the region,” he said.
“The TRAIN project (linking Warwick with the Northern Rivers) will enhance these opportunities further and we will see more industries looking to relocate to regional areas.”
Regional Development Australia – Darling Downs and South West chief executive officer Brian Hewitt said Grove’s relocation was a real example of the economic and employment growth that could occur within regions when connections with vital infrastructure were provided.
“The successful promotion of the TRAIN project, which is currently under consideration for funding by the Commonwealth, will not only facilitate stage two of the Grove Fruit Juice project, it will facilitate the further expansion of industry within the area and this will provide direct and substantial benefits to all areas of the Granite Belt, Darling Downs and Northern NSW,” he said.
“Regional Development Australia (RDA) – Darling Downs and South West is committed to supporting capacity building projects of this nature and is currently liaising with all stakeholders and with government to further the case for progressing this nationally significant project.
“It is projects like TRAIN that will enable the sustainable decentralisation of industry and increase the livability and opportunities that are essential to the growth of regional areas.”
Mr Willis said his aim was to increase Grove’s production capacity and aggressively develop his national and international markets.
“We are the only Australian-owned juice company actively investing in “farm to fridge” vertical investment in our industry,” he said.
Grove Juice has planted about 250,000 citrus trees in the Moree area, with plans to expand their crops over the next five years.