Aust tastes to inspire palates at world largest food trade fair

More than 6000 exhibitors from 95 countries will display their products, with buyers from more than 150 countries anticipated.

Leith Doody, Austrade’s Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said Anuga offered Australian exporters an excellent chance to build a European as well as global presence – with Anuga offering a direct line to local European buyers and potential customers from the rest of the world.

“No other food and beverage trade fair attracts so many participants from other nations. Exhibitors and visitors from almost every country use Anuga to display new products and make international contacts,” Doody said.

“It’s a great opportunity to reach buyers located in Europe, and with many supermarket chains also moving into Asia, bringing their procurement systems and supplier requirements with them, it’s also an important springboard to many other destinations,” Doody said.

Austrade’s Senior Export Adviser for Food and Beverage Stuart Castricum believes Australia’s innovative food and beverage producers are well placed to interest Anuga trade visitors.

“Anuga is also well known for showcasing the latest trends in the food and beverage business, providing an excellent opportunity for niche and innovative lines that Australia excels at, such as gourmet and specialty products,” Castricum said.

“One example is the Wild Hibiscus Flower Company, producers of a spectacular crimson garnish for champagne and sparkling wines. A small, crown-shaped hibiscus flower sits at the bottom of a champagne flute, with the bubbles slowly opening the flower, which can be eaten when the drink is finished,” Castricum said.

Other Australian exhibitors range from Ferguson Australia, producers of high quality seafoods such as sashimi grade lobster meat and pacific oysters; True Living Nature Pty Ltd, makers of the natural and unique ‘Beta Jooce’ wellness drinks combining beta glucans, coral seagrass and fresh juice; and the Wine and Truffle Co, the largest producer of the French Black Truffle in the southern hemisphere.

“The diverse range of exhibitors are ambassadors for Australian innovation and our clean and green image, which is particularly important with sophisticated consumers in EU markets like Germany,” Doody said.

“Ethnic and cultural diversity in Australia is also reflected in our food exports with many European, Asian and Middle Eastern influenced specialty products. Australian food producers can also cater to specific consumer needs in terms of certification such as certified organic, kosher or halal foods,” he said.

The value of Australian food and beverage exports in 2005/6 was $23.8 billion. In 2006-07, Austrade assisted 225 food and beverage companies make 234 export deals worth $235 million to EU countries. Forty-three of these companies were new or irregular exporters. Over the same period, 266 food and beverage exporters active in the European Union received $10.9 million in EMDG funding support, generating $99.7 million in export sales.