A New Chapter for Country Chef
In July 2021, the Country Chef Baking Co. announced an exciting new chapter in their journey. Having outgrown their existing factories in Kunda Park and Forest Glen, they made the decision to relocate to a purpose built state-of-the-art production facility in Caloundra’s new industrial estate.
Buderim Air was entrusted with the decommissioning of the old factories and installation of new refrigeration systems to support the new facility.
Gateway Care: Providing Support for the Community
Around the same time Gateway Care, a cherished local charity that provides affordable food to more than 1,500 families every week, was facing significant challenges. Their retail space, cold room, and freezer room were struggling to keep up with the growing demand for their services, especially during the tough economic climate following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Buderim Air and Country Chef Collaborate to Support Gateway Care
Having worked with Gateway Care since 2011, Buderim Air fully appreciated the essential role Gateway Care plays in the community and saw an opportunity to provide meaningful support. They approached Country Chef with a proposal: Buderim Air would donate their time and resources to dismantle and safely remove all refrigeration machinery and cool room panels from the sites at no charge, and Country Chef would, in turn, donate the decommissioned cool room panels and refrigeration equipment to Gateway Care. Recognizing the significance of Gateway Care’s mission, Country Chef wholeheartedly agreed.
Decommissioning and Recovery Process
The process spanned two months to strip the two Country Chef factories out and in doing so recovered 1.1km of 100mm cool room panel, cool room doors and other associated components. Once the materials were recovered, they were meticulously cleaned, packed, and transported to Gateway Care’s facility. Volunteers joined in to give the panels a final clean and prepare them for reinstallation.
Constructing the New Gateway Facility
Around this time, Gateway Care secured a neighboring property, paving the way for a much-needed expansion.
Buderim Air began erecting the donated panels, creating a brand-new 600m² retail space complete with modern drive-in cold rooms and freezer rooms. To give the facility a professional, supermarket-like finish, Buderim Air installed new glass door inserts into the cold rooms and freezer rooms. Over 10 weeks, the transformation was nothing short of remarkable.
After the cold rooms were erected, Buderim Air was further engaged to supply and install the following:
4 x new 15 KW LG ducted air conditioning systems
2 x repurposed 20 KW Freezer room refrigeration units
2 x repurposed Cool room refrigeration units.
Impact of the New Facility
The new gateway facility was commissioned into service in 2023 and has significantly enhanced Gateway Care’s ability to meet the ever-growing demand for their services. This ensures that they can continue supporting families in need across the Sunshine Coast.
A Testament to Collaboration and Community Spirit
This project is a shining example of how local businesses and charities can collaborate to create lasting positive change. Through the generosity of Country Chef and the expertise and dedication of Buderim Air, Gateway Care has been able to expand and thrive, continuing their vital work in our community.
We’re proud to have been part of this initiative and extend our heartfelt thanks to all those involved.
Learn More About Gateway Care and Country Chef
For more information, check out the links below:
Gateway Video Link:
https://youtu.be/Smb2Ln7Zels
Gateway Website:
https://www.gatewaycare.org.au/
Country Chef
https://www.countrychef.com.au/