Aust food industry is exposed in full to the world's spotlight

Austrade’s national manager, Food & Beverages, Lyndel Jack said food and the Fine Food event provided participants at the Fine Food industry event with an ideal platform to showcase Australia to the world.

“Its testimony to the popularity of the Australian brand internationally that Austrade has attracted key buyers to the event from Asia, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific Region,” Jack said.

“The Australian food companies exhibiting at Fine Food Australia include the well established experienced exporters keen to meet new customers as well as those that are new to export.”

To assist smaller new to export businesses, this year Austrade will manage a ‘What’s New from Australia’ stand on the show floor.  This will give the opportunity for new to export companies to display their product samples. 

Austrade’s Manager Export Advisers, Caleb Jarvis said the ‘virtual’ ‘What’s New From Australia’ stand is an ideal way for company’s new to export to participate in an international trade show without having to travel overseas and commit huge funds.

“Because the stand at Fine Food is ‘virtual’ there’s no need for the participating suppliers to be present.  Austrade will have experienced export advisers manage the stand and provide feedback from the international buyers to the Australian companies,” Jarvis said.

Austrade’s Beijing-based China Country Manager, Peter Osborne said this year Austrade has brought over 70 buyers from China to Fine Food – the most interest from any other country.

“The interest in Australia is partly driven by China’s growing middle class and urbanisation including a massive expansion of the country’s freeway and railway network,” Osborne said.

“The opening up of inland China is underway.  By 2035, every city with a population of over 200,000 will be connected via transport links."

Austrade’s chief economist Tim Harcourt said the rise of ‘super’ emerging economies in the world today is providing a real boost for the exports of Australian fine food and wine.

“In terms of food, our markets have traditionally been in high income countries like Japan, US, UK, New Zealand and Hong Kong.  But now developing economies with large middle class consumer populations are also creating demand – especially for fine food,” Harcourt said.

“For example, both China and Indonesia have joined the ranks of the top ten markets for Australian food consumption.”