Food manufacturer Crafty Chef has embarked on a $1.12 million energy efficiency upgrade with 50 per cent of the project cost sourced through Australian Government’s Clean Technology Program, with the assistance of Low Carbon Australia.
The company, a family business which has been in operation for nearly 15 years, manufactures and markets restaurant quality meals and finger-foods to the mass consumer market through supermarket retailers and the food service industry.
Industrial refrigeration engineering consultancy Minus 40 director Michael Bellstedt said his firm had conducted an evaluation and feasibility report and recommended that Crafty Chef’s freezer be replaced with a state- of-the-art industrial Spiral Freezer system.
“The new freezer uses ammonia as the refrigerant and is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent.”
Using current energy prices, the new equipment is expected to provide an annual saving of $65,000.
Crafty Chef General Manager Jitesh Gohil said that the grant and the finance represents a great win-win result for Australian manufacturing, jobs and the environment.
New refrigeration would allow the company to free up capital for other projects to continue its growth, Mr Gohil said.
Low Carbon Australia’s CEO Meg McDonald: “By providing finance to help cover the upfront cost of projects, we’re working with businesses to make their energy efficiency savings happen sooner.”
