Viti Foods Limited team yesterday inside the new Mackeral processing section. Photo: paulini ratulailai
Rachna lal
suva
Viti Foods Limited, a local fish-cannery and a subsidiary of the CJ Patel Group, has undertaken major investment in their plant.
The Investment is concentrated around three main areas. These are increasing production capacity, meeting global compliance such as the US Foods and Drug Administration and British Retail Consortium and adding loining to its operations.
Currently the plant cans both Mackerel and Tuna for local sale and export.
Increasing production
capacity
The investment will enable the company to triple current production capacity.
General manager, Amendra Singh, said this will benefit the economy by increasing employment from 150 to approximately 400 workers.
He said this will also increase the purchase of tuna to around 700 metric tonnes a month, most of which the company intends to source locally.
Increasing product range
Viti Foods’ factory in Laucala Beach Estate, produces brands such as Skipper Tuna and Angel Mackerel.
The company also does home brands for key retailers such as Shop n Save, MHs, J Santaram, Lokia and Foodtown.
The investment in the plant will enable the company to extend its product range to include solid packs for Tuna, specialty products and cooked frozen loins.
Apart from the product range, focus has been on developing the skill set in tuna and Mackerel processing by sourcing expertise from the industry as well as using services provided by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and Ministry of Health.
Mr Singh also acknowledged the support from the Finance Ministry as well as the Ministry of Fisheries.
Increasing market access
Viti Foods currently exports mainly in the region to countries such as Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.
This investment will enable the company to get the necessary certification needed to extend its presence to the USA and Europe.
Feedback: rachnal@fijisun.com.fj
