Eight Sunshine Coast businesses have started pitching their products to importers and distributers in Asia via a virtual trade fair.
They are among more than 60 Queensland companies involved in the potential multi-million dollar windfall.
While the pandemic has stymied overseas trade missions, the Taste of Queensland promotion has gone on-line with exporters and importers negotiating via online meetings.
Most prospective buyers are able to taste test the range of food and beverage products already despatched to them.
The Premier and Minister for Trade, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the virtual trade push with 12 Asian cities reinforced that Queensland is open for more business.
“This novel, month-long promotion has already generated very keen interest in our Asian markets with so many potential buyers already signed up for online meetings,” she said.
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The initiative could help the likes of Sunshine Coast gourmet food distributor Belladotti expand their reach.
“It (the trade fair) is excellent. It’s very well run and it’s certainly been a great opportunity for us to meet possible buyers and develop our export market, from our base at Coolum,” Belladotti co-director Melanie Guidotti said.
“We are talking to businesses over there (Asia), with webinars and online meetings.”
Belladotti exports risotto pre-mixes and salad toppers to Middle Eastern and Asian markets.
“They (overseas buyers) have shown a lot interest in our latest range, the couscous premixes, so I imagine that will be going over soon as well,” Mrs Guidotti said.
Belladotti has been based at Coolum for the past eight years, after the company was established by Melanie and Marco Guidotti. There are nine staff.
“We’ve been very fortunate and have managed to keep working throughout COVID, and in fact we’ve developed a number of new markets, as people start looking at different products.”
“Our products, being shelf stable, have been really good for exporting.”
Sunshine Coast companies involved in the trade fair are Belladotti (Coolum Beach), Buderim Ginger, Country Chef Bakery Co (Kunda Park), Fable Foods (Hunchy), Land & Sea Brewery – Noosa beer co (Noosaville), Planet Organic (Coolum Beach), Plantasy Foods (The Real Food Group) and The Gluten Free Food Co.
For more information about Taste of Queensland visit http://www.tiq.qld.gov.au/.
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