Tails a-wagging at $43.5m investment at Avalon

ABOUT 190 jobs are expected to be created over two years from a new $43.5 million warehouse being built in the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct by a leading pet retailer.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll visited the precinct today (Thursday, August 25) to break ground at the 32,000sqm site where The Petspiration Group is establishing its National Distribution and Operations Centre, with support from the state government.

The new centre is expected to open in 2024 and will help the company meet growing demand.

It will include a new regional office, training hub and on-site dog daycare.

Established in Ballarat in 1991, The Petspiration Group owns 200 PETstock stores, five distribution centres, 150 grooming salons, 26 vet hospitals and more than 20 pet care brands.

The centre will deliver jobs for the Geelong region, with up to 300 new opportunities for Victorians of all skill-levels across a variety of roles including packing orders, warehouse machinery and administration work.

The Petspiration Group’s relocation from its existing centre in Truganina to the much larger Avalon site will enable more efficient delivery of its products to online customers and PETstock stores nationwide and internationally.

“Regional Victoria is where our business journey began so we are excited to expand our operations here – solidifying our deep commitment to creating local jobs and strengthening this industry,” The Petspiration Group chief executive officer Shane Young said.

Pet ownership is booming, with peak industry group Animal Medicines Australia estimating pet ownership rates in Australian households have grown from 61 per cent to 69 per cent in the past two years.

The Petspiration project adds to other recent investments in the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct that are creating new local job opportunities, including Hanwha Defense Australia’s new $170 million Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence.

Victoria’s logistics sector, which includes transport, postal and warehousing industries, contributes more than $21 billion to the state’s economy and directly employing almost 170,000 people.

“We’re backing companies to invest, grow and create jobs in Victoria by being a destination of choice for fast-growing companies like Petspiration to set up and expand their operations,” Mr Carroll said.

Lara MP John Eren said it was great Petspiration had chosen Avalon as the place to expand its footprint because it would drive economic growth and boost local jobs in the region.