Port Lincoln largest private employer the Port Lincoln Tuna Processors cannery is almost back up to full speed with the management hoping to hire more people next year.
Uncertainty with supply contracts earlier this year and ongoing competition against cheap foreign imports, meant the cannery for several weeks reduced production and cut shifts.
But general manager Lindsay Guillot is filled with optimism now that major supermarkets had pledged their support for the only Australian-produced canned tuna made in the country's last tuna cannery.
The cannery produces the well-known John West brand, but this brand name was purchased from the previous owner Unilever by another multi-national firm known as Simplot.
One hurdle to overcome was to convince the new owners of the brand name to keep using the Port Lincoln facility.
Port Lincoln Tuna Processors has also worked to convince the supermarkets to keep stocking the locally made product and not to give in to the temptation of selling only imported tuna.
The Federal Government can also play a role as there are steep tariffs or financial levies on Australian products imported to important regions such as the US and Europe while free trade agreements had made importing products from countries such as Thailand cheaper and easier.
The cannery is operating five days a week with plans to open a new, second factory early next year when there would be a need for more workers.
The new $20 million factory has state-of-the-art equipment, including machinery that can package different food and sauces in pouches.
â€We want to start employing a lot more people next year when we get back to full production,†Mr. Guillot said.
The staff at tuna processors urge local consumers to buy only the Port Lincoln-made product such as Tuna Tempters as all other tuna was imported from overseas, he said.