Carman’s Fruit Straps have found a new home at See Differently’s manufacturing hub, with a new partnership that supports local production and creates inclusive job opportunities.
Carman’s and See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind have announced a new manufacturing partnership that will see Carman’s popular Fruit Straps produced and packaged at See Differently’s Gilles Plains facility in Adelaide.
The move marks a significant expansion for See Differently’s manufacturing operations and will deliver new employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The not-for-profit organisation, which has supported the blind and low vision community in South Australia for 140 years, employs more than 70 people with disabilities at its north-eastern Adelaide site, providing packaging and production services to Australian businesses.
Carman’s founder and managing director Carolyn Creswell said the new partnership ensures continued Australian-made production while supporting a values-aligned social enterprise.
“Making our products in Australia is a must for us. See Differently not only offers high-quality manufacturing services, but we are delighted to support a group that provides meaningful employment and vital services like guide and assistance dogs,” Creswell said.
The Fruit Straps – a well-known lunchbox favourite made from 100 per cent real fruit – have been manufactured in Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills. As part of the transition, current Lobethal staff will move to See Differently’s Gilles Plains facility, with production continuing in Lobethal until the upgraded site is ready later this year.
Executive director of See Differently, Damian Papps, welcomed the partnership as a milestone in the organisation’s growth and impact.
“Providing employment opportunities while making quality products that clients value is in our DNA. We have steadily invested in our manufacturing facility at Gilles Plains, and we are delighted to be working with Carman’s, a family-owned business that shares our commitment to quality and community,” Papps said. He added that the collaboration would lead to further employment growth and help expand See Differently’s food manufacturing capabilities.
Creswell noted that increasing demand for the Fruit Straps range had outgrown Carman’s previous facility. “We’re so proud of our Fruit Straps – in many ways they’re our simplest product, made only with 100 per cent real fruit – and they’ve been incredibly popular. This move sets us up for future growth and product innovation,” she said.
The partnership not only reinforces both organisations’ commitment to local manufacturing but also highlights the powerful role inclusive employment can play in supporting thriving, purpose-led business models.
This article was first published in the May-June 2025 print issue of PKN Packaging News, p48.
