IRT expands catering operations

Illawarra‐based lifestyle and care provider, IRT Group, will expand itscatering operations by more than half, making the business one of the largest catering producers outside of the Sydney metropolitan area in NSW.

IRT Group chief executive, Nieves Murray, said the more than $2 million construction project was underway with the increased production due to begin in the new year.

“This is an exciting investment for IRT. IRT Catering has been one of the success stories for our operations. In the 13 years it has been in operation, it has grown to a business employing 45 people and producing around 30,000 meals a week,” Ms Murray said.

She added the expansion of the production centre would allow IRT to increase output by about 50%, turning IRT Catering into a $12 million per annum business producing nearly three million meals a year.

“Depending on growth and market demands, we could potentially employ up to an extra 20 people at the site and that will mean more investment in the Wollongong region,” Ms Murray said.

Long-time IRT director and former IRT chairman, Richard Young, opened the purpose‐built catering facility in 1999, and it was one of the first operations in Australia to introduce cook chill food technology.

“When we centralised catering our main concern was we wanted a uniform quality of food across our operations,” Mr Young said.

“To see the business continue to grow from what was a small operation into a stand‐alone business is something that we, as a community organisation,  could be very proud”.