Posted on August 13th, 2025
Last week, Keppel Eats lodged a Material Change of Use (MCU) development application with Livingstone Shire Council to expand its existing operations at Tanby Road to a new food Value Adding Facility at 23 Pineapple Drive in the Gateway Industrial Precinct, Yeppoon.
A proud locally owned family business, Keppel Eats has operated for the past 39 years and is now the largest manufacturer on the Capricorn Coast. The company currently employs 50 local people and produces an ever-expanding range of 12 value-added products, which are distributed nationally.
The new facility will create an additional 107 direct jobs and offer a diverse range of career pathways in the community across production, refrigeration maintenance and engineering, quality assurance, administration, and sales. Once operational, the facility is projected to contribute an additional $222 million to the broader economy each year.
Director Mark Davie said the company is investing in the region’s future by expanding responsibly and sustainably.
“We’re incredibly proud to call Yeppoon home. This is where our family lives, our staff live, and our story continues to grow,” Mr Davie said.
“We’ve worked closely with environmental consultants and engineers to ensure that every aspect of this development – from stormwater to emissions – meets the highest standards.”
“This is not just about growing our business. It’s about creating opportunities for local people, partnering with local suppliers, and contributing to a strong, self-sustaining Capricorn Coast economy.”
Mary Carroll, CEO of Capricorn Enterprise, highlighted how the Capricorn Coast continues to lead the way in Australian food production.
“I absolutely commend Keppel Eats on their commitment to our local community, which they have chosen to operate in Yeppoon as opposed to a southern location, which in some respects would be cheaper and easier,” Mary said.
“This facility, which is not far from the CQU Manufacturing Hub in Rockhampton, is the perfect match for delivering career pathways and creating employment opportunities for our locals, decades into the future.”
Operating out of a HACCP-certified Yeppoon facility, Keppel Eats has become a trusted name among some of Australia’s biggest food retailers, major service station groups and events as well as supplying thousands of independent food businesses across the country.
In March this year, Keppel Eats won the Supplier Under $20 Million award at the PFD National Awards for Excellence, competing against industry giants including Bega Cheese, Smith’s Chips, and Sandhurst Fine Foods – making the achievement even more remarkable.
The award reflects Keppel Eats’ commitment to promotional support, maintaining a reliable supply chain, and building strong relationships across the nation.
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