‘Once the due decisions are taken, that is the time when we will really make it public and announce it
including informing our shareholders about it’
FMF Foods Limited Group chairman Hari Punja (third from second row) with wife Tara Punja (third from left front) and the rest of FMF Roti team competing in the Protex Health Month. Photo: COLGATE PALMOLIVE FIJI LIMITED.
By RANOBA BAOA
FMF Foods Limited will announce an exciting revamping of the facilities and upgrades once all due processes are underway.
This was revealed by FMF Foods Limited chief executive Ram Bajekal during the Protex Health Month Promotion competition which the company is participating in.
The project comes to light while the company celebrates its 40th anniversary.
FMF Foods is the food manufacturing division of the Hari Punja Group.
“We are turning 40 this year and a few things we are doing is revamping all our facilities and having a look at all the upgrades that are required,” Mr Bajekal said.
“But in addition to that, we’ve also taken stock of what the market might be where we have other opportunities.
“So in connection with that will be embarking on a very large modernising programme as well as capacity enhancement programme and so that’s what we’re planning to do.”
Competitive edge
Mr Bajekal added this would give the company the competitive edge it needs in the Pacific and its outlying countries.
“We are presently serviced by Australia-we believe that we’d have a much better chance of entering those and servicing that market better.
“It would largely do around, some of it is clearly on storage facilities wherein we would be able to increase the capacity of intake.
“We’re also looking at some balancing equipment, where we would need equipment in order to balance the capacities right through from receipt of the raw materials production and packaging of finished goods.
So there’s a lot of balancing equipment as well as primary storage he added.
Investment
While the project was still in talks, Mr Bajekal said that this major revamping would involve over $10 million.
On the employment side he added that it would add a substantial number of additional jobs. However, he said: “Again this is something that is a bit premature at this stage but as time goes we will know exactly how many more employees that it would require.
“The wheels are already in motion and we’ve already started some of the work relating to that and is something that we will be building on in the days to come.
“Till then it is very much in the planning stage.
“Once the due decisions are taken that is the time when we will really make it public and announce it including informing our shareholders about it.”
Protex Health Month
FMF Foods Group chairman Hari Punja said: “This initiative by the Ministry of Health and Protex is an excellent way to improve the daily lives of our workers.
“It is clearly happening in developed countries where companies have their own sporting facilities available for their employees.
“We’re encouraging this initiative because if we have healthy and vibrant staff, companies have good excellent records in terms of avoiding accidents and other legal matters pertaining to staff safety.”