Sweet result for Mildura Chocolate Company

A GRANT provided to the Mildura Chocolate Company will aid in the expansion of the business and create three more jobs.

Funded through Regional Development Victoria (RDV) as part of Stronger Regional Communities, the company has been able to purchase packaging equipment to help with the growing demand of business.

Mildura Chocolate Company social enterprise co-ordinator Melissa Tucker said the funding would help the company in a time of high demand.

“We are at a very exciting stage of business where demand now outweighs our production capacity,” she said.

“It is through generous funding such as this grant from RDV and long term support from our community partner Murray River Salt that we are in the position to grow and create employment opportunities for people of all abilities in our region.”

The company is run by the Christie Centre, a not for profit disability support origanisation and employs staff off all abilities.

Ms Tucker said new packaging equipment purchased included a conveyer and automated scales, and would alleviate a need for manual numeracy and help to employ three more staff members.

“Many of the people in our organisation, the Christie Centre, would like to join the workforce but are at times held back by these processes,” she said.

“We foresee that we will be able to employee three more supported employees, including those with different skills set to our current staff, fitting into our mission to provide employment opportunities for people of all abilities.”