Industry to lead engagement with food and beverage export strategy
Food South Australia has released an industry-led export strategy for the food and beverage sector with the goal of growing export sales to just over $AU3 billion by 2027.
The South Australia Food and Beverage Five Year Export Strategy was released today at the industry’s annual conference, the 2022 Food South Australia Summit.
Food South Australia CEO Catherine Sayer said the food and beverage industry in South Australia is a key driver for the South Australian economy and increasing sales to high potential export markets is vital to driving both industry and state economic growth.
“This export strategy has been developed in close consultation with industry and recognises that growing export sales for our state’s food and beverage products from $2.6 billion in 2021 to $3 billion by 2027 can only be achieved by South Australian businesses working together, with the support of the State and Australian governments,” Ms Sayer said.
Minister for Trade and Investment, Hon Nick Champion MP, congratulated the South Australian food and beverage industry for their work in developing such a comprehensive strategy.
“This is exactly the type of initiative that will help South Australian exporters as they rebound from a tough few years,” he said.
“I look forward to working with the industry as we continue to build exports in key markets and ensure South Australia export rebounds and our producers are stronger than ever.”
The Export Strategy, which covers all food and beverage products excepting wine, is being championed by an industry-led Steering Group comprising some of the state’s most experienced food and beverage exporters.
Ms Kate Birch, General Manager of her family’s business – and South Australian export success story -Ferguson Australia Group, is chairing the Steering Group, which also includes Simon Linke (SAMEX), Kris Lloyd (Woodside Cheese Wrights) and Andrew Cooper (Coopers Brewery). The Steering Group is working with Food South Australia and government agencies to address the key export challenges facing the industry.
Ms Birch said the strategy calls for a framework to support accelerated growth for existing exporters and enable new exporters to move forward with confidence.
“It’s essential to achieving growth that we recognise and leverage our competitive strengths and collaborate effectively with state, national and industry bodies to achieve export success and build resilience,” Ms Birch said.
“There are challenges not only in fully understanding the priority markets and categories that offer the greatest potential in line with global consumer trends, but also in developing a competitive logistics infrastructure, growing industry skills and investing in innovative technologies, for example,” she said.
The Export Strategy has been developed under the South Australia Food and Beverage Export Hub program. Food South Australia developed the Export Hub initiative to assist businesses to streamline their export development and receives funding support from the Australian Government’s SME Export Hub grant and the Government of South Australia.
The Export Strategy is supported by a range of free resources for businesses, including comprehensive market and product category prioritisation scorecards, and in-depth market category case studies available in document and podcast formats available via the Food South Australia website at https://foodsa.link/SAFoodandBevExportStrategy.
“As the peak body for the sector, Food South Australia’s focus is on practical and actionable support for businesses, regardless of where they are in their export strategy development,” Ms Sayer said.
