When Siddharth Jani founded Tongala Nutrition in 2023 and invested in developing a former Nestlé dairy manufacturing facility in Tongala, Victoria, his vision went beyond establishing another food and nutrition company. It was to build a globally competitive Australian manufacturing business, create regional employment, develop innovative health and nutrition products, and strengthen the growing economic relationship between Australia and India.
The scale of the opportunity was significant, but so was the challenge. In 2024, the business began with one employee and no active production workforce. The task ahead involved recommissioning a major dairy manufacturing facility, rebuilding operational capability, recruiting and training a new team, establishing food-safety and quality systems, engaging customers and bringing commercial manufacturing back to the site.
Within just 2 years, Tongala Nutrition has grown from that single employee to 30 full-time staff in 2026, with the team predominantly based in regional Victoria.
For Jani, this is one of the company’s most meaningful achievements.
‘When we started, we had the infrastructure and a vision, but we had to build the operating business from the ground up,’ he says. ‘Going from one person to a team of 30 full-time employees, recommissioning the facility and successfully commencing production has been an extraordinary journey.
‘Most importantly, we are creating sustainable manufacturing jobs and capability in regional Australia.’
Bringing manufacturing back to Tongala
The Tongala facility has a significant Australian dairy manufacturing heritage. Rather than allowing that industrial capability to remain underutilised, Tongala Nutrition embarked on an extensive recommissioning program.
The company commenced its first commercial production in November 2024 and has since developed capabilities across UHT and extended shelf-life beverages, dairy and non-dairy products, and other value-added nutrition products.
Tongala Nutrition has continued investing in its manufacturing systems, quality standards and export readiness. The facility has achieved major regulatory and quality milestones, including a Victorian dairy manufacturing licence, BRCGS Grade A certification, Halal certification, Australian Government export registration and registration for export to China.
Today, the company works with Australian brands and retailers while developing opportunities across international markets.
Innovation, nutrition and Australian value-add
Tongala Nutrition’s longer-term strategy is centred on transforming high-quality Australian agricultural inputs into higher-value health and nutrition products.
The company is developing opportunities in high-protein beverages, sports and performance nutrition and advanced dairy ingredients. It has plans to further expand its capabilities in areas including whey protein and other functional dairy ingredients.
This represents an important opportunity for Australia. Instead of simply exporting agricultural commodities, Tongala Nutrition wants to undertake more processing, product development and value creation domestically and export sophisticated Australian-made nutrition products to global markets.
Collaboration is an important part of that strategy. Tongala Nutrition is looking to deepen engagement with Australian universities, technical institutions and industry partners to support food innovation, research and development and workforce skills, helping address the specialist capabilities required by Australia’s evolving food and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Tongala Nutrition has provided employment for the local community, growing from one employee to 30 full-time staff in 2 years.
Sustainability and regional investment
Sustainability is also being incorporated into the future development of the Tongala site. The company is progressing major renewable energy and energy-storage initiatives designed to reduce the environmental footprint and energy intensity of manufacturing.
The Victorian Government has recognised the importance of Tongala Nutrition’s regional investment and expansion, with the company receiving A$1.5 million in funding from the Victorian Investment Fund in 2026.
The investment will support Tongala Nutrition’s continued growth and its ambition to establish Tongala as a significant Australian hub for food, dairy and nutrition manufacturing.
An Australia–India success story
Jani’s own journey gives Tongala Nutrition a natural connection to the Australia–India economic corridor.
Having built businesses in India’s pharmaceutical and nutrition ingredients sector before establishing Tongala Nutrition in Australia, he sees significant complementary strengths between the 2 countries.
Australia offers world-class agricultural inputs, strong food-safety standards, research capability and a trusted international reputation for quality. India brings enormous growth in health, wellness and sports nutrition, a sophisticated manufacturing and entrepreneurial ecosystem, and one of the world’s largest emerging consumer markets.
Tongala Nutrition aims to sit at the intersection of these strengths – developing Australian intellectual property and products, adding value to Australian agricultural ingredients, manufacturing to Australian quality standards and connecting these capabilities with India and other rapidly growing Asian markets.
For Jani, however, the company’s Australian investment is about much more than commercial opportunity.
‘Australia gave me the opportunity to build something for the long term,’ he says. ‘Our commitment is to continue investing here, creating jobs, developing Australian manufacturing capability and taking Australian innovation and nutrition products to the world.
‘India will always be an important part of our story, and I believe Tongala Nutrition can become a meaningful bridge between the strengths of both countries.’
Tongala Nutrition’s first few years demonstrate what investment, entrepreneurship and Australia–India collaboration can achieve. And the journey is only beginning.
How Austrade helped
Austrade has worked closely with Tongala Nutrition since 2022, supporting the establishment of its Australian operations and its growth.
Austrade has provided advice on government programs, visa pathways and export opportunities; introductions to key stakeholders, including state governments, Dairy Australia and Export Finance Australia; and connections to government and industry networks. This support is helping accelerate the company’s growth, encourage further investment, and expand exports across Southeast Asia and the Middle East region.
‘Austrade’s ongoing engagement is helping unlock Tongala Nutrition’s next phase of investment and export growth, while generating lasting economic value for Australia,’ says Jani.
How Austrade can help
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) supports foreign investors to establish and expand operations in Australia. Our experts in Australia and around the world can help you through every stage of your investment journey.
We offer the latest industry insights, connections with key stakeholders and decision-makers, and virtual or physical site visits to Australia. Thousands of foreign businesses have worked with us to tap into the Australian market.
For information on investment opportunities in Australia, contact an Austrade investment specialist.
Go further, faster with Austrade
Subscribe to the Investment Update newsletter to find out about new investment opportunities, insights and investor success stories across Australia.