Mondelēz International is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing Philadelphia at its Mount Gambier factory in South Australia.
Philadelphia is Australia’s most popular cream cheese, with the Mount Gambier factory producing 20,000 tonnes of it annually – this equates to around 80 million tubs. And the business sources close to 150 million litres of fresh milk from local dairy farms annually.
Last week, Premier Peter Malinauskas, Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven, past and present employees, and local dairy farmers gathered in Mount Gambier to mark the 50 year milestone.
“The Mount Gambier Philadelphia factory is one of South Australia’s quiet export success stories, taking the Limestone Coast’s quality fresh produce to Australia and the Asia-Pacific,” said Premier Malinauskas.
“The Limestone Coast is a key economic driver for South Australia and has so much untapped economic potential, which is why my government is investing more than $130 million in the region.
“I congratulate Mondelēz International and its workforce on this significant milestone.”
The 50th milestone has sparked great pride and a huge sense of achievement for staff at the Mount Gambier Philadelphia factory, many of whom have been making Philadelphia for more than 20 years.
Site Manager Adam Borchers says he feels humbled and honoured to work with such an iconic and loved product enjoyed in Australia and around the globe.
“Philly is a brilliant example of taking the best of South Australian dairy to the world. A third of our volumes are exported to international markets including South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. It’s a thrill to know there’s a taste of South Australia in every cheesecake and on every bagel made using our brand.”
The Mount Gambier plant has no plans to slow down, with the business investing $50 million in the last decade to support growth ambitions and export opportunities. Local demand for cream cheese has surged since the Covid pandemic, with Australians inspired to spend more time in the kitchen.
The cream cheese maker has also recently teamed up with Cadbury, to developed Marble and Caramilk-inspired Philadelphia products, proving winners with Aussies and Kiwis.
“We’re incredibly proud of the last 50 years and look forward to continuing to be Australia’s favourite cream cheese spread for many years to come,” said Borchers.
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