SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Processing and packaging facility offers inclusive working environment

When Woolworths looked at processing and packaging some new products, it tried Merriwa as an option. It turned out to be a success for both companies. Here’s why.

Based in north-east Victoria, Merriwa is a company that specialises in supported employment enterprises. They have hired more than 105 supported employees out of a team of 300. They work across five business divisions – contract packaging, contract processing and packaging, timber beams and flooring and as service staff in the Park Lane Nursery and Garden Centre, as well as child, youth and family services including family support services, assisted living centres and Youth Justice.

Merriwa’s dream is to be part of a future where people of all abilities reach their potential and feel respected, happy and confident.

The company prides itself on creating a supportive and inclusive environment for its teams across each business division. It sees the potential and ability in each of its team members and provides opportunities for personal and professional development, training and upskilling.

Woolworths originally approached Merriwa’s Contract Processing and Packaging (CPP) Division to trial a number of products at its new facility, based on a new concept of bringing the ‘farm gate to the store’.

Merriwa’s CPP facility was established in 2009, with equipment and material purchased to suit the needs of the Woolworths’ products and packaging. What started as a trial quickly evolved into a fu ll-time operation. It now processes 15 product lines for Woolworths, including dried apricots (200g and 500g), sultanas (375g and 1kg), desiccated coconut (250g and 500g) and shredded coconut (250g). This range now also includes pitted dates and prunes, cashews, semolina, trail mixes, nibble mixes and nut mixes.

“We value Woolworths’ input into our operations and processes,” said Mark Currie, general manager of operations at Merriwa, Wangaratta. “Our relationship has continued to flourish through consistent communication, site visits and regular meetings in both Wangaratta (Merriwa’s CPP location) and Sydney.

“Merriwa’s relationship with Woolworths has allowed us to build a commercially viable business division, which operates in parallel with our dream to provide an environment which encourages people to reach their potential while delivering quality products and services to our customers and clients.”

Since beginning its partnership with Woolworths in 2009, Merriwa has increased its output from four to six million retail packs annually. It has also steadily grown the variety of product SKUs it offers. This progress has enabled it to upgrade its equipment and expand the number of food-grade packing rooms it has to meet the needs of its growing CPP division.

It currently provides employment for a team of 30 people (equivalent full time). It is now looking to remodel this team to support more employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

“Our partnership with Woolworths is highly valued by the team at Merriwa,” said Currie. “We feel like a part of the brand and culture, where our team takes pride in packing and processing product for Woolworths. This has helped us to grow as an organisation through strong relationships built on the sharing of knowledge, concepts and ideas. “We are now part of the production planning process and pride ourselves on operating at the highest of standards to produce high quality products. We operate under an extensive Quality Assurance program, developing comprehensive HACCP procedures, conducting internal Good Manufacturing Practice audits and Food Safety audits and have achieved an ‘AA’ Rating under the British Retail Consortium.

“The Merriwa team has built a culture of continuous improvement, celebrating the wins, and being progressive and inclusive, which is reflected in our values alignment with Woolworths,” said Currie. F

Woolworths works with Merriwa’s CCP facility, which specialises in packaging products due to be sold in the store.