Agribusiness is an economically important sector that generates large multipliers with agricultural production across regional cities in Victoria. Hazeldenes and Don KR in Greater Bendigo and Mars Wrigley Confectionery and McCain Foods in Ballarat are very large employers in the food manufacturing sector.

The Murray is base to large-scale international food processing with an established supply chain and access to export markets, such as Kraft Heinz, Parmalat, Fonterra, Simplot and Kagome in Campaspe Shire and Albury-Wodonga as well as the wider Murray-Riverina region is home to Geofabrics Australasia, Visy, Mars Petcare, Asahi Beverages, Uncle Toby’s, Danone, Vitasoy and Saputo. Shepparton is a major centre for fruit and vegetable processing, grain production, dairy processing with SPC Ardmona, Tatura Milk Industries, Unilever Australia and Campbell Australia calling Shepparton home.

The Gippsland region has a thriving agribusiness industry with over 9,000 food and fibre businesses. The region is a dairy powerhouse in beef and lamb, milk, milk powder, butter, cheese and yoghurt, generating $640m in output annually.

Horsham is the launch-pad for Australia’s protein-powder industry, with Australian Plant Proteins, a $20m investment project for the manufacture of high-grade protein powder from pulses grown in the region. Other local enterprises like Waltanna Farms in Hamilton that combines innovation with technology and is Australia’s leading flaxseed producer.