Middle Eastern buyers have received a taste of the produce on offer from Western Australia as part of the Gulfood 2014 trade exhibition in Dubai.
The State’s presence at Gulfood, led by the Department of Agriculture and Food, involved 32 companies representing many areas of food production including grains, meat, seafood and honey.
Department trade development liaison officer Carolyn Hine said interest in Western Australian produce was strong.
“Gulfood is the Middle East region’s biggest annual trade exhibition for the food and beverage industry, and participation in such a high profile event is vital to maintain the profile of the State’s products,” Ms Hine said.
“In addition to regional interest, buyers from around the world attend, including from Africa, India, Pakistan and Malaysia.”
In 2012-13, Western Australia exported around $1.5 billion in produce to markets in the Middle East.
Exhibitor Lupin Foods Australia was successful in Gulfood’s Sustainability Awards category Best Environmentally Sustainable Initiative and commended for one of the Brands and Product Awards in the category of Best New Health Food or Beverage.
“This is an outstanding result and puts Western Australian lupins into the international spotlight,” Ms Hine said.
Lupin Foods Australia General Manager David Fienberg said: “Winning one award and being highly commended for a second means that lupin foods truly do have a place on the global food stage and that food technology work completed to date demonstrates that Western Australia does have potential to showcase high value non-meat, gluten-free alternative foods.”
The shared stand at Gulfood, held in February, was led by the Department of Agriculture and Food and supported by the Western Australian Trade Office in Dubai.
Media contacts: Jodie Thomson/Lisa Bertram, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937