Mondelēz opens Australia’s largest US$130M chocolate distribution facility
The facility will boost storage capacity by nearly 60%, enabling the processing of more than 450 million products.
AUSTRALIA – Mondelēz International, the parent company of Cadbury, has officially opened a US$130 million distribution centre in Truganina, Victoria, now the largest facility of its kind in Australia.
The 44,000-square-metre facility will manage over 50,000 pallets and boost storage capacity by nearly 60 per cent, supporting streamlined distribution across Australia.
It will process every locally made product from Cadbury, Pascall, The Natural Confectionery Company, and Olina’s Bakehouse, including four million Cadbury Dairy Milk blocks each week and 18.2 million Cherry Ripe bars annually.
The upgrade is set to significantly enhance delivery speed and supply efficiency across Australia.
Located within the Wyndham industrial corridor, the centre strengthens Mondelez’s long-term footprint in Australia’s food manufacturing sector.
The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art automation, temperature-controlled zones, and sustainable features, including solar infrastructure and energy-efficient lighting. It is poised to become a cornerstone of the company’s domestic supply chain.
Supporting local jobs, suppliers, and shifting market needs
More than 200 new jobs have been created on site, with 90 per cent filled by residents from Melbourne’s west. Roles span warehousing, manufacturing, and co-packing, bolstering the company’s local impact.
Mondelēz now directly employs over 2,000 people nationwide and supports an additional 4,000 through its supply chain.
In 2022, it spent US$970 million with over 700 Australian suppliers, sourcing key ingredients such as 110 million litres of milk from Tasmanian farms and sugar from Far North Queensland.
The Truganina investment follows major upgrades at other facilities, including US$75 million at the Claremont chocolate factory in Tasmania and US$20 million in new machinery across various Australian sites.
The centre’s launch also comes as the global chocolate industry faces headwinds, including surging cocoa prices and shifts in consumer behaviour amid economic uncertainty.
Mondelēz has responded by introducing smaller 100g chocolate blocks to help manage input costs while retaining value for consumers.
At the same time, the company is doubling down on brand relevance with celebrity collaborations and new product launches aimed at strengthening emotional connection with shoppers.
Mondelēz International Japan, Australia and New Zealand chief executive Toby Smith said the company was proud to invest in Australia. “We’re proud that the biggest facility for Cadbury anywhere in the world is right here in Truganina,” Smith said.
Mondelēz International operates in over 150 countries and is home to beloved brands including Cadbury, Toblerone, Milka, BelVita, and Ritz. The Truganina facility marks a significant expansion of its global logistics network and Australian manufacturing.
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