28 August 2024: Following the success of Grow National, a number of SE Qld food, beverage and agribusiness manufacturers and producers will be heading to Fine Food in Melbourne next week to showcase their nationally award-winning products.
With everything from coffee to honey, and goat’s cheese that can be kept in your pantry, all eyes will be on these innovative food and drink producers whose products are increasingly sought after.
Fresh out of a 10-week intensive program designed to build capacity and run by the Food & Agribusiness Network, many of these producers are now equipped with the confidence and skills to speak to buyers as they raise awareness of their offering.
Karen Lindsay from Little White Goat Cheese is one of the exhibitors who recently featured on Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars. With a passion for goat farming and cheese making, Karen wanted to extend the life of her product and started exploring freeze-drying. She perfected the method and now sells her delicious, freeze-dried goat’s cheese (which has a shelf life of up to 18 months and is kept in the pantry), worldwide.
“I know I have created an incredible product that people just love. You can add it to salads, soups, pastries and so much more – the list is endless,” Ms Lindsay said.
“Participating in the 10-week Grow National program highlighted all the things I was doing well and filled in the areas I needed to work on in order to achieve scale. I cannot wait to showcase the versatility of my product at Fine Food next week.”
Another exhibitor is Leisa Sams from Hum Honey who has collected an impressive array of national awards over the past seven years. Her cold fusion honey is as nature intended – free range and pesticide, chemical and antibiotic free.
“Our honey is as pure as you can possibly get,” Mrs Sams said.
“It is pure, raw honey that literally comes straight out of the hive into jars. We capture the flavour of native flowers and trees in each of the areas our bees are placed, resulting in delicious golden honey that is infused with flavours that are fresh and unique.”
FAN CEO, Nicole McNaughton said she was delighted with the success of Grow National and the impact it has had on participants.
“Grow National came about as a result of the success of Grow Coastal which ran for three years and assisted 37 local businesses and 54 co-founders. The cohort over that period grew their businesses which in turn created 51 new jobs, saw $2.935M of new capital invested, and an increase of revenue growth of 21% and customer growth of 121%.
“The impact was profound and we knew that if the impact on the smaller businesses was so positive, an enhanced program aimed at established businesses should have the same or better results – and so far what we are seeing is incredibly encouraging,” McNaughton said.
“Recent figures estimate the food and agribusiness industry on the Sunshine Coast alone is valued at just over $1billion and the producers in our region are delivering products that are exceptional and it is wonderful to see a number of this recent cohort exhibiting at Fine Food next week.
Fine Food Australia will be held in Melbourne from September 2-5.
Grow National Participants Exhibiting at Fine Food:
- Little White Goat Cheese
- Hum Honey
- Noosa Black Garlic (The truffle of the garlic world)
- My Berries
- Cooee Coffee
- Pinnacle Beverages
- Love My Earth Tea Shop
Grow National is proudly supported by the Advance Queensland initiative – Accelerating Female Founders Program. The program is also supported by the Turbine Precinct, Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, Moreton Bay Council and Noosa Council.
ENDS
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For more information, images and interviews, contact the team at The Comms. People.
Heather Mollins, heather@commspeople.au or 0412421411
Jennifer Swaine, jen@commspeople.au or 0438952830