Be it beautiful bocconcini or a rich ricotta, demand for La Casa Del Formaggio's cheese products is going 'burrata'.
It's why the South Australian based company is significantly expanding its production capacity by building a new $35 million facility at Edinburgh Parks – creating 208 new jobs during construction and a further 90 ongoing.
Premier Steven Marshall said the state-of-the-art facility will help the local company keep up with demand and expand into new export markets.
"South Australian now has the fastest growing economy in the nation and La Casa Del Formaggio is just one of many local success stories, with the company's products now considered household staples right across the county," Premier Marshall said.
"There are now more South Australians employed than ever before in the history of the state and this new facility will enable the company to take a giant leap forward by taking their award-winning cheese products to the world, while also creating hundreds of new local jobs," he said.
La Casa Del Formaggio's Managing Director Claude Cicchiello said the start of construction is an exciting milestone in the company's 30-year history and the realisation of the company's vision to create one of Australia's best cheese manufacturing facilities.
"The family feels very fortunate that we've been able to do what we love for 30 years and there have been many important milestones over that time, but today is possibly one of the most significant," Mr Cicchiello said.
"It is exciting and humbling all at the same time and has only been made possible with the support from staff, customers, suppliers, government and of course our consumers who continue to enjoy our fresh cheeses, made in South Australia," he said.
Renowned for their award-winning cheese products including Bocconcini, Mozzarella, Burrata, Ricotta, Haloumi, Parmesan, Mascarpone and Cream, the company will move from its current site at Glynde, north-east of Adelaide.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the state government contributed $1.5 million to the project.
"La Casa Del Formaggio prides itself on working closely with South Australian dairy farmers, taking our fantastic produce from paddock to plate," Minister Basham said.
"This means their growth results in industry growth, helping dairy farmers across the Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide Hills and Murraylands," he said.
The contract for construction of the new 10,000sqm facility was awarded to national builder Vaughan Constructions.
Vaughan Director, Mark Byrne, welcomed the opportunity to work with a nationally recognised and highly regarded food industry operator.
"We are very pleased to be able to make such a significant contribution to the production capacity of one of Australia's most successful dairy industry companies, La Casa Del Formaggio," Mr Byrne said.
"The new facility, which will allow for a significant increase in La Casa Del Formaggio's milk processing capacity of up to 150 million litres of milk per annum, will also set a new industry benchmark for technology, efficiency, sustainability and workplace safety," he said.
The project is expected to be completed by July 2022, with all production and staff to be fully transitioned to the new facility by February 2023.
