Central Coast Food & Agribusiness

Central Coast Food & Agribusiness

The Central Coast is recognised for its agricultural diversity, from citrus farms and poultry farms to flower farms and turf.

The Central Coast has many existing strengths and emerging capabilities in the food production and food services sector. Apart from its food and beverage manufacturing capability, it is home to a diverse sector covering smaller artisan food producers, high quality primary food producers together with food service companies in catering and hospitality.

It is represented in the fresh, dry goods, chilled and frozen supply chains which provides opportunities for exploration of food items or additives that can cut across all these supply chains.

There are two key points that differentiate the Central Coast from most other regions. The first is that it has the largest city population base in Australia, in Sydney, at its door step. Couple with this it has agricultural and industry lands to service the population base and beyond.

Secondly it has two major research facilities in its region with a third being built. The University of Newcastle has a campus at Ourimbah that has its food science school with research capability located there. On the same campus the NSW Department of Primary Industries has its Centre of Excellence for Market Access and Greenhouse Horticulture.

There are internationally branded food manufacturing businesses that produce on the Central Coast – including McCain Foods, Sara Lee, Mars, Sanitarium and George Weston Foods. The existence of these international brands put the Central Coast on the map for further potential investment and showcases that the region has the right ingredients for supporting big industry.