Juicy deal as new $400m factory creates more than 500 jobs

The beverage giant behind the V Energy and Just Juice brands plans to build a $400m factory near Ipswich, creating hundreds of jobs in the area.

Artist's impression of the new Frucor Suntory factory at Swanbank.

Japanese beverage giant Frucor Suntory, the maker of V Energy and Just Juice drinks, has confirmed it will build a $400m factory at Swanbank near Ipswich, creating up to 500 jobs.

The news confirms an exclusive report in City Beat last December that the company had secured a 10 hectare site to build a new state-of-the-art manufacturing and production facility capable of making up to 20 million cases of drinks each year.

The project is part of a major expansion plan by the Japanese group, which is currently located in Carole Park producing and marketing a variety of drinks including V Energy, H2Go, Just Juice, Maximus, Fresh Up and Simply Squeezed.

Frucor Sunstory chief executive Darren Fullerton says the facility will include beverage processing, packaging, warehousing and distribution, strengthening the company’s ability to service its customers and the growing Australian market.

Artist's impression of the new Frucor Suntory factory at Swanbank

“Pending approvals, we’re planning to start early work construction in the third quarter of this year and commence operations in mid-2024,” says Fullerton.

The project is expected to create around 450 construction and 160 long-term roles. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Frucor Suntory’s plans are another big win for Queensland.

“It’s an incredible coup that an international company of the calibre of Suntory, that has a global workforce of over 40,000, has chosen Queensland ahead of others to establish a permanent manufacturing facility here,” Palaszczuk says.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick says Queensland secured the plant ahead of offers from other states and other countries.

MAGNETIC ATTRACTION

Accor Pacific boss Sarah Derry could have her pick of exotic holiday locations around the world. But every year Derry makes the trek to Magnetic Island off Townsville to enjoy some downtime.

Derry, who took over the top role at Accor from Simon McGrath earlier this year, grew up in Townsville and still enjoys Far North Queensland hospitality.

“We stay at Peppers resort on the island as it’s a special place for us,” Derry told a tourism industry lunch hosted by Accor at Sofitel Brisbane Central.

Derry is upbeat about tourism demand as Queensland comes out of the pandemic, but cautioned that attracting workers to the hospitality sector was a challenge.

She says workplace flexibility and incentives such as retention bonuses and free parking would be key to finding good people.

Accord Pacific chief executive Sarah Derry

Derry says the hospitality business was a “social elevator” in that people regardless of their education or background could reach the top. “As a young girl growing up in Townsville, I could never imagine I would get the opportunity that I have at Accor,” she says.

Derry moved to Townsville when she two after her father was drafted during the Vietnam War and did his basic training in the city.

When he returned from the war, her parents initially moved back to Sydney but soon realised they wanted to live in Townsville permanently. She attended St Patricks College on the Strand and later James Cook University.

Derry says Accor has big expansion plans including the continued rollout of the Movenpick brand in Australia, the latest property in Brisbane. She also revealed a “secret hope” to open a Raffles Hotel in Australia. “I would love to have a Raffles in this part of the world,” she says.

BOARD APPOINTMENT

Brisbane tech giant Data#3 has appointed veteran director Susan Forrester to its board. Forrester has served as chair and non-executive director on several ASX-listed companies over the past 12 years with broad experience in setting strategic direction as well as specific responsibility for corporate governance and compliance.

The qualified lawyer also is a councillor at the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been awarded an Order of Australia for her service to business and as an advocate for women. She is currently the chair of ASX-listed Jumbo Interactive and a non-executive director of Plenti. Data# 3 reported revenues of $1.96 billion last year with than 1,200 staff across 12 locations in Australia and Fiji.

Susan Forrester AM