Safcol Australia has announced an $80 million investment in a new purpose-built food manufacturing facility at Edinburgh in Adelaide’s north, marking a significant expansion of its production capability and one of the largest recent investments into South Australia’s food manufacturing sector.
The company officially broke ground on the new site on Tuesday 2 June, alongside the opening of its new Adelaide Fish Market facility in Thebarton, as part of a broader strategy focused on long-term manufacturing growth, operational efficiency and supply chain resilience.
Safcol has appointed South Australian company Sagle Constructions as lead contractor for the new facility.
The new Edinburgh facility will replace Safcol’s existing Elizabeth factory over the next two years and is expected to deliver approximately double the production capacity of the current site.
Safcol Australia CEO Andrew Mitchell said the investment was a strategic decision aimed at securing the future of local manufacturing operations while addressing increasing industry pressures.
“Our Elizabeth facility has served us incredibly well over many decades, but increasing energy costs, rising logistics pressures and ageing infrastructure meant we reached a point where maintaining long-term competitiveness required significant change,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The new site gives us the opportunity to redesign our operations from the ground up with modern manufacturing capability, greater efficiency and room to support future growth.”
Safcol currently manufactures around 60 per cent of Australia’s wet baby food supply, including products for a leading baby food brand in Australia, alongside soups, canned vegetables, seafood products and products for major supermarket and national food brands.
The Elizabeth operation also houses Safcol’s national warehousing and import business, supporting seafood and pet food distribution across Australia.
In addition to producing its own South Australian Gourmet Foods range, Safcol manufactures products for a number of well-known Australian brands, including a renowned gourmet food brand, supermarket private labels and other major food partners. The company also processes local mussels and Australian canned abalone for export markets.
Mr Mitchell said the new facility would incorporate advanced manufacturing technology and provide opportunities for future renewable energy integration aimed at improving productivity and reducing energy and water consumption.
Safcol’s sustainability and operational efficiency remain central to the design and future operation of the new Edinburgh facility. The company has already implemented a range of sustainability initiatives across its existing operations, including solar-powered infrastructure and upgraded retort machinery that have reduced carbon emissions by approximately 240 tonnes annually and cut water usage by around 136 million litres each year.
The company’s fishing practices have also contributed to a 90 per cent reduction in marine bycatch, helping save millions of marine creatures annually. Packaging materials, including plastics, are recycled wherever possible, with the company continuing to invest in innovation aimed at further reducing landfill waste through improved materials and manufacturing processes.
For Safcol, now in its 81st year of operation, the new Edinburgh facility represents the next chapter in the company’s long-standing manufacturing presence in South Australia.
“This investment is about building a manufacturing footprint that is fit for the future while continuing to support Australian producers, local supply chains and South Australian jobs,” Mr Mitchell said.
The announcement coincided with the opening of Safcol’s new Fish Market facility at 36 West Thebarton Road, Thebarton. The reinvigorated Fish Market, evolved from the high quality and service of the original Mile End Market, provides advanced facilities and serves as a central seafood hub in Adelaide, continuing its wide-reaching support for South Australian fishermen, seafood suppliers and wholesale customers.
Representatives from Safcol’s parent company, Tropical Canning Thailand, attended the Edinburgh groundbreaking alongside company executives.
For further information, please visit safcol.com.au.
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