Page 15 - Food & Drink Business August 2018

2 BUYER TURNOVER
It is surprising how much turnover there has been in the buying teams for international
products at leading high-end supermarkets. These changes have lead to a rationalisation of some of the categories that previously enjoyed wide ranging. As a supplier or manufacturer, it’s imperative that you keep in regular contact with your buyers, so that even if they change, you always have a champion arguing your case.
3 PRIVATE LABEL Retailers introduced the ‘home brand’ conversation, to
varying degrees, in every meeting. Some distributors also spoke about the desire to develop their own brands for distribution to retailers and food service. While the preference is always to take
your own brands to export markets and build your brand presence, there is merit in keeping an open mind to home brand opportunities. This may help you secure more volume for your export channels.
5 FREE-FROM, ORGANIC AND VEGAN
Common to both retailers and distributors was a request for organic and free-from products. This is driven by a trend in government policies
6 IN-MARKET REPRESENTATIVES
For the markets I visited, many have worked with food and agribusiness business development managers and trade commissioners from Austrade or state government agencies. These representatives are keen to engage with suppliers, and potentially collaborate on projects, so if you are a food business or stakeholder supporting food businesses,
be sure to reach out. ✷
✷ ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
FOOD EXPORT
4
NOVELTY SEEKING
to address growing health risks, including diabetes and obesity.
The organic trend has been growing for a while and has also accelerated recently, and a trend that has just started to gain pace is a rising demand for vegan products. In addition, satisfying the needs of millennials arose in many of the meetings.
“ There is merit in keeping an open mind to home brand opportunities... which may help secure more volume for export channels.”
Premium products don’t always enjoy brand loyalty in these markets. High-end consumers like to try new products, so it’s important that companies continue to innovate and introduce new flavours, ranges, packaging, and marketing methods to help extend the product and brand life cycle.
Najib Lawand is the director of Export Connect. He has 20 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry, across the private and
public sector. He can be contacted at najib@ exportconnect.com.au or +61 448054234.
✷ KEY GROWTH AREA AUSSIE WINE EXPORTS SET
PROCESS and FACILITY DESIGN
Scaling up Australia’s start-ups and mid-tier food manufacturers
NEW RECORDS
China’s rising taste for a tipple has helped drive Australian wine export values up 20 per cent to $2.76 billion in 2017-18, according to the lastest Wine Australia Export Report.
Export volumes are also up 10 per cent to 852 million litres,
which sets a new record, according to Assistant
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Senator
Anne Ruston.
Australia was seeing the
highest rate of growth in the value of wine exports in 15 years, according to
the minister, who welcomed the findings.
Minister Ruston said wine regions across
Australia were benefiting from growing export opportunities.
“Australia’s free trade agreements are also opening up
for our wines. The market in China is continuing to expand with the value of wine exports up 55 per cent to $1.12 billion and volume up 47 per cent in the year to June 2018.”
“The fact that both value and volumes of wine exports are at record levels, with values growing at twice the rate of volumes, shows that our international customers value our quality wines,” the minister said. “From grape growers to winemakers, there has
never been so much support from an Australian government.”
new market opportunities
AUSTRALIA - NEW ZEALAND
WWW.RMRPROCESS.COM
T: (03) 9023 9130
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | August 2018 | Food&Drink business | 15