The $4.5 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility development will launch in May next year, employing 16 additional production personnel and a food scientist.

Four other employees are currently being transitioned into highly-skilled roles to keep up with increasing demand from overseas.

Export trade now makes up 20 per cent of Ferndale’s business, with their products going to 14 countries including China and America. 

Famous for JILA mints and Jols fruit pastilles, Ferndale received a $500,000 Future Industries Manufacturing Program state government grant announced yesterday.

Ferndale Confectionery’s general manager Leigh Edward attributed the manufacturer’s success to quality at a reasonable price. 

“We feel that we don’t take any shortcuts,” he said. 

“We also try to be different, because if you do more of the same, chances are you’ll be copied by lower cost producers that aren’t that focused on quality.”

Alongside producing their branded products, the manufacturer now supplies more than 400 ALDI Australia stores.

“It’s quite incredible, our private label products do more units per store per week than Australia’s market leader,” Mr Edward said. 

Construction for the expansion is underway on the former Stephen Pasture Seeds site on Wiltshire Lane.

The announcement has followed a number of job losses in Ballarat due to the closure of Olivers Footwear, the loss of Armaguard jobs and Ballarat Window and Doors’ liquidation.

Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll said Ferndale was a great success story for advanced manufacturing. 

“They are ahead of the bell curve on where they need to be, evidenced by their successful export right around the world,” he said.

“Homegrown, local employees and longevity in the workforce is such a important key ingredient.”

The company currently employs 35 people.