Maggie Beer was the star attraction at a recent showcase of South Australian food and beverage in Shanghai. Food and Hotel China provided the perfect platform for SA businesses to be a part of the showcases at the trade only tradeshow. Through liaising with world famous chefs in Shanghai, Food Adelaide helped identify market opportunities to work conjunctively with Maggie Beer on gala food and beverage showcases. Produce was showcased at restaurants, M on the Bund, The Glamour Bar and Mesa Manifesto before a highly influential demographic of key stakeholders in the China food and beverage value chain. These showcase events provided extensive exposure of SA food and beverage business to key stakeholders and decision makers in the Chinese market. HOFEX 2009 is now being organised and will be conducted in the similar showcase fashion which minimises costs for participants and maximises exposure as a group.
Clare Bagshaw
Food Adelaide
p: +61 8 8300 0022
e: clareb@business-sa.com
Promoting Australian Produce is a three year, $5 million program that aims to assist Australian food industries develop their capacity to promote and market Australian produce more effectively to both domestic and export markets. Under the program, matched funding grants between $50,000 and $750,000 are available for food industry organisations to undertake projects based around one or more of the following activities: enhancing industry marketing and promotional capabilities, developing new strategies for industry marketing, gaining consumer insights or strengthening links with domestic and international markets. Applications for funding under Round 1 of Promoting Australian Produce are being called for and close on 2 March 2009. Guidelines and the application form are available at www.daff.gov.au/ausproduce. Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) funding of $3 million is also available until 30 June 2009 with details at www.daff.gov.au/ausproduceevents
DAFF
p: 1800 631 715
e: ausproduce@daff.gov.au
The Limestone Coast has seen a surge in the number of potential investors sourcing the region for major horticulture opportunities. As a result the Limestone Coast Regional Development Board (LCRDB) in conjunction with PIRSA are developing an easy to access and interactive website. The website will provide information to potential investors and aim to enhance horticultural development. Maps of the region including soil associations, water availability and climatic conditions, along with additional information regarding labour costs, the economy, communication and lifestyle will all be provided on the detailed website. All areas have been addressed to enable potential investors a ‘one shop stop’ to gain information on the region and direct them to various industry bodies, organisations and government departments. It is envisaged the website will be fully operational in the next few months.
Chrissi Smith
Acting Industry Development Officer - Limestone Coast
p +61 8 8723 1057
e chrissi@lcrdb.com
Regional food producers could access $35 million in funding over the next four years as part of the Regional Food Producers Innovation and Productivity Program (RFPIPP). The program aims to boost the productivity and competitiveness of Australia’s regional food and seafood industries through innovation and technology improvements. $10 million will be specifically set aside for the seafood industry. Under the program, matched funding grants, generally between $50,000 and $2 million, are available for food and seafood businesses to undertake projects based around one or more of the following activities: the design and implementation of new technologies, production or processing techniques, the adoption of food production or processing technologies developed overseas or the innovative redesign of existing production/processing lines to improve efficiencies and productivity. Expressions of interest for Round 1 of RFPIPP are open now and close on 9 February 2009. Guidelines, application documentation and frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be viewed at www.daff.gov.au/foodinnovation.
DAFF
p 1800 631 715
e foodinnovation@daff.gov.au
w www.daff.gov.au/foodinnovation
The latest issue of Food Talk magazine is out now! This Summer we meet the newest inductee into the Premier’s Food Awards South Australian Food Industry Hall of Fame, Drake Supermarkets. Visionary leader Roger Drake shares his passion and hopes for the state and our food industry. We also talk to the newest Young Leader Dr George Ujvary who is heading up family business Olga’s Fine Foods and developing a new focus for their niche products. The SA Food Centre is now officially open for business at Regency Park with the official launch by the Premier in September. We find out more about one of the partners, DTED and how the Centre is helping local businesses grow. Lastly this issue also features South Australian food businesses Aqa Oyster, SA Potato Company, Havenhand Chocolates, Illalangi and Holco Fine Meat Suppliers.
Read Food Talk, Summer 2008 (Issue 29) (pdf, 950kb)
Submit your contact details via the subscription form
An entrepreneur program is set to ignite young people working in the agri-food sector. The Ignite program enables young people (aged 18-30) in the agri-food sector to develop the skills, networks and support to establish and expand agri-enterprises that are commercially and environmentally sustainable and innovative. Through Ignite, experts will deliver professional development in business management, financial planning, family business management and entrepreneurship. The program also includes networking, mentoring and field trips to explore successful sustainable businesses in South Australia. If you are a young person in the agri-food sector and have an idea for a new concept or innovation to enable your business to be more sustainable in a changing climate or have an innovative way to diversify or expand your business across the value chain then you should apply for Ignite. Registrations and the website open 13 January 2009 with applications closing 18 February 2009.
Belinda Barr
PIRSA
p +61 8 423 295 576
e barr.belinda@saugov.sa.gov.au
w www.officeforyouth.sa.gov.au/ignite
South Australia’s Fantastic Snacks is targeting Australian rice cracker fans with a kooky national television campaign spoken entirely in Japanese. The campaign is a humorous parody of an Asian infomercial and features the brand’s iconic ‘Japanese Rice Cracker Lady’ speaking fluent Japanese with tongue-in-cheek English subtitles providing a haphazard translation. Witty subtitles, including “baked for happy joy” and “we are very trying with flavour so please enjoy savoury life” lead to the punch line: “Taste Fantastic (not lost in translation)”. The commercial follows Fantastic’s hugely successful ‘Pimp My Kettle’ campaign which garnered praise for its innovative approach. Fantastic Snacks General Manager, Mr David Crotti, said the rice cracker campaign had been deliberately developed “outside the square”. “We wanted to create something that would appeal to Australia’s sense of humour and the finished product is edgy, original and very funny.
Visit www.tastefantastic.com.au/JL
If you’re a small businesses in South Australia, then the State Government wants to hear from you. Have your say about ideas for assisting small business, emerging themes (such as Reducing red tape, Workforce development and skills, Sustainability and climate change, Small business funding, and State Government assistance) and barriers to small business. The results will help inform the development of a Small Business Statement, which will help shape South Australia’s future small business policy. The objective of the statement is to create the most supportive business environment in Australia for small business to grow and prosper and it will outline ways to remove the obstacles and challenges faced by small businesses each day. It will also detail the resources that can be provided by government to better enable businesses to meet those challenges.
DTED
p +61 8 8303 2911
e sbstatement@state.sa.gov.au
w www.southaustralia.biz/sbstatement
The Australian almond industry is set to benefit from an exciting marketing strategy by its American counterpart to make almonds 'nut of choice’ among consumers around the world. It has been revealed that the world’s biggest producer of almonds has an impressive five year plan to make almonds the world’s most popular nut. California produces 80 percent of the world’s almonds, while Australia is poised to overtake Spain as the second largest producer. The Almond Board of California’s global marketing manager Shirley Horn told delegates at the recent Australian Almond Conference 2008, that research indicates that the industry had enormous growth potential. Mrs Horn said that if Australian industry could solve its water supply problems it was perfectly placed to capitalise on significant demand growth on the horizon. The almond has everything going for it – people are prepared to pay more for it, there are a wide range of health benefits from eating it regularly and it is versatile. China, India and Europe are key markets in the global 'nut of choice' plan.
Juliet Haslett
Almond Board of Australia
p +61 8 8582 2055
m +429 100 464
w www.aussiealmonds.com
Asia TV hit South Australian shores recently filming food and wine regional experiences for a new program ‘Superb Travel & Dining’. Visiting five regions, the seven member team from Hong Kong with chef Mr Wong Wing Chee will be presenting unique regional cooking segments amongst wine and travel destinations to their Hong Kong and Southern China audience. Jointly sponsored by PIRSA and Department of Trade and Economic Development, this was Asia TV’s second visit to South Australia in 2 years and they are amazed that they still haven’t featured every region of the State. Food highlights of the visit included Burra Saltbush Merino, picking Adelaide Hill’s cherries, Coorong Angus Beef and a cooking segment with Ferguson Australia’s K.I. King Crab, Southern Rock Lobster and Andermel Marron.
Ying Walker
DTED
p +61 8 8303 2301
m +429 100 464
e ying.walker@state.sa.gov.au