Sanofi continues Queensland investment to keep pace with booming international demand

Sanofi Consumer Healthcare will continue its expansion in Brisbane next year with a $5 million investment into production facilities at its Virginia site, in an effort to keep pace with ever-increasing demand from China.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt toured the impressive production lines today where brands including Nature’s Own, Cenovis, Ostelin are made.

“Queensland is the logical place for a world-leading company like Sanofi to be expanding its operations, given our competitive tax setting and proximity to Asian markets,” the Treasurer said.

“Sanofi Consumer Healthcare are a great example of the type of company we are proud to have invest and headquarter in Queensland and I'm thrilled to announce they’ll be investing an additional $5 million in Brisbane next year.

“That’s on top of the $30 million the company has recently invested in growing their manufacturing presence in Brisbane including building a new warehouse, new on-site café facilities, parking facilities and purchasing new manufacturing and quality testing equipment.

“The Australian vitamin, mineral and supplement market has seen growth like never before at an unprecedented 24 per cent, which has led to a steady increase in Sanofi’s Brisbane workforce.

“I know Sanofi is currently building a team to focus solely on exports, having added new export roles into the business in the last six months.

“I am confident we’ll see more innovative companies investing here in Queensland to seize on growing market opportunities, with the State Budget estimates recording nation-leading growth in 2015-16 and strong forecast growth this year and in the years ahead.”

Sanofi Consumer Healthcare’s head office and state-of-the-art manufacturing site are based in Brisbane where they employ approximately 400 people including scientists, allied health professionals, regulatory affairs specialists, quality control experts, manufacturing technicians and engineers.

Member for Nudgee Leanne Linard said overwhelming demand from China for quality Australian-made products had seen a record number of products made at the local Virginia plant.

“In the past year almost three billion capsules and tablets have been packed right here in Brisbane with more than half of that product also manufactured in Virginia,” Ms Linard said.

“In fact the company has had to start running three factory shifts a day, rather than the usual two, just to keep up with demand.

“Sanofi Consumer Healthcare is the only large scale vitamin, mineral and supplement business in Australia to be integrated with full in-house research and development, quality testing, manufacturing and packing capability – which is exactly the kind of innovation and investment the Palaszczuk Government is trying to drive through our Advance Queensland agenda.”

Sanofi Consumer Healthcare general manager Brett Charlton said Sanofi is committed to providing Australian consumers with high quality products from brands that have been around in some cases for over 70 years.

“We are continuing to invest here in Queensland in both new technology and people,” Mr Charlton said. 

“There are many opportunities in the international market for companies like ours and this doesn’t stop at China – there is demand for quality Australian products from all across the Asia Pacific.

“Women’s health is a big export opportunity for Australian companies and products such as our Nature’s Own Grapeseed which is made here in our Brisbane factory, has been especially popular with Chinese consumers.

“A large proportion of this growth is coming from Chinese consumers – they are after clean and green quality Australian products.

“Certain ‘niche’ products and segments are influencing this growth – in particular Vitamin D, Women’s Health, Children’s health, Fish Oil.”

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