Goodman Closes Tamworth Bakery

Goodman Fielder is about to close its north-west New South Wales operations, relocating production to its factories in Sydney and Canberra. The move is part of the food manufacturer’s strategy to consolidate its manufacturing and supply chains throughout Australia.

Up to 30 Tamworth bakery staff will be redeployed or offered redundancies, with employee assistance programs, outplacement programs and career support on offer.

Nestled in one of the country’s most productive grain-growing areas, Goodman Fielder spokesperson Martin Cole said the closure would not affect local suppliers.

“We have national contracts in place with ingredients suppliers and that will continue post-closure,” he said, adding supplying the region’s supermarkets with Wonder White and Helga bread would not change.

“We are simply transferring production from Tamworth to our other facilities,” he said.

Tamworth Business Chamber president Lia Mahoney commended the company for the assistance it is offering to staff, but admits finding them alternative positions in the area may be challenging.

“I am surprised a city like Tamworth, with low cost of living, dynamic infrastructure, ideally located between Sydney and Brisbane, and the fastest growing inland city, was not considered to be an attractive option,” she told ABC Rural.

“I think it comes down to flexibility, retraining and thinking outside of the square.

“They may have worked for Goodman Fielder for 15 years but these skills can translate into other areas, and [baking staff] need to be able to think laterally and ask, ‘right, how can I best present myself and take this as an opportunity?’.”

Goodman Fielder is owned by Singapore-based agrifood group Wilmar International and Hong Kong investment firm First Pacific, after agreeing to a $1.32 billion takeover in 2014.