Agriculture Minister Murray Watt calls for clarity over Saputo’s Australian future

Saputo need to be clear about which Australian factories it intends to shut, Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says.

In a speech to Canadian investors last month, company boss Lino Saputo Jnr announced the processor intended to downsize from 11 to five factories in Australia, but did not stipulate which sites were earmarked for closure.

A spokeswoman for Saputo this week said: “At this time, beyond the previously announced SDA network optimisation activities, no decisions have been made regarding its manufacturing footprint.”

The announcement follows moves by Saputo to sell its Melbourne and Sydney processing sites to Coles supermarket.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is examining the deal and recently push back a decision on whether to green light the transaction.

Alex Sinnott, The Weekly Times, October 12, 2023.

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