Almondco, Australias second-largest almond processor, is intent on expanding its operations further, as global and domestic demand for their nuts holds firm. Almondco is an almond processor based in South Australias Riverland region. The region is one of the nuts major production centres in the country due to its ideal growing conditions.

The processor receives products from more than 85 percent of the countrys growers and is already upgrading its Renmark plant, following a $28.5 million loan from the South Australian Government. While this upgrade is due to be completed by mid-2021, Almondco said it was already planning to invest further in its sites across the Riverland and New South Wales citing an increase in almond orchards in the Murray-Darling Basin.

"The whole industry is in a significant growth phase and Almondco is no different," Almondco managing director Brenton Woolston told. "So, were continually planning for the future. Trees are in the ground across the Murray-Darling Basin. The tonnage will eventually come on stream and we need to make sure we have the capacity to take in our members products."

Woolston said further expansion was still in the planning phase, but would likely include more projects at the Renmark plant and investment in the companys Lyrup site, also in the Riverland, and in sites across New South Wales.