Wimmers Softdrinks gets nod for new factory

The Sunshine Coast council has approved construction of a new production facility for one of the biggest employers in the hinterland town of Cooroy.

Council has given the green light to the relocation and construction of a new factory for Wimmers Softdrinks and Cooroy Mountain Spring Water.

Owner Peter Lavin hopes work at the old brickworks site outside Cooroy will be finished by the middle of next year.

Mr Lavin says the new facility will allow for future expansion.

"We want to get into, as we go down the track to be self-sufficient, we want to get into blow moulding where we're blowing our own bottles on site and you need room for those sort of things and unfortunately Wimmers has just got no room for growth," he said.

"So we want to bring in new machinery as well, so it's really to secure Wimmers and Cooroy Mountain Springs for the future."

Mr Lavin says the new facility will be more efficient.

"It's all about keeping your costs down, keeping your product competitive, getting exposure into major supermarkets," he said.

"We've worked with Woolworths and Coles and IGA to go direct.

"That's what we're doing successfully at the moment.

"We're getting in the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane area directly to ... probably 100, 150 stores where we deliver directly every week."

Source: ABC News, 5 November 2013