Well-known Tasmanian brand Betta Milk will be closing its Burnie facility and relocating production to Lenah Valley in Hobart after decades in the state’s north.
Bega acquired Betta Milk in December of last year and has announced that the transition of production to Tasmania’s south will begin in March.
While the Burnie site currently manufactures Betta Milk and Pyengana milk brands, Bega Group CEO Pete Findlay said a strategic review revealed that the facility was not meeting standards.
He said the move was critical to ensure the continued success of Betta Milk and Pyengana brands.
“Bega Group is working closely with the employees who have been affected by this announcement, offering redundancy packages and exploring redeployment opportunities,” he said.
“Of the employees that have been impacted, 23 are located in Burnie, 14 in Launceston, 13 in Kings Meadows, 10 in Hobart and 2 in Melbourne.”
“Today’s decision was not an easy one to make, and we are working hard to manage this change respectfully with all employees, suppliers, customers and partners.”
He said there business was committed to maintaining a strong local presence in Tasmania and supporting dairy farming families in the region
“Burnie and Northern Tasmania remain an important region for Bega Group. Betta Milk is synonymous with Northern Tasmania, and we look forward to strengthening our connection to the local and surrounding areas through various community initiatives,” he said.
The Department of State Growth has assured that workers affected by the closure of Bega’s operations will receive support to find new employment or retrain for different roles.
“Jobs Tasmania will engage with Bega to ensure impacted employees receive comprehensive support and information about their options to find new work,” a State Growth spokesperson confirmed.
“Jobs Tasmania has a range of supports that are available to connect workers to new job opportunities including the Regional Jobs Hub Network and the Career Connector service.”
The Rapid Response Skills Initiative, managed by Jobs Tasmania, will help eligible affected workers with up to $3,000 to quickly get the support they need to learn new skills or obtain licenses for switching careers.
“Other businesses concerned about the impact of Bega’s decision, including suppliers and contractors, should contact Business Tasmania on 1800 440 026 for advice and support.”
