Forum provides a feast for top minds
Supporting growth of premium and value-add food and beverage businesses in the Great Southern region was the focus at the Premium Food and Beverage Forum in Albany on 28 June 2018.
Hosted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Food Industry Innovation (FII) project and Regional Development Australia Great Southern, the forum brought together more than 65 premium agrifood producers, processors, industry leaders and local and state government representatives.
In his address via video to the forum, global food trend expert Professor David Hughes excited the audience with his views on the premium food industry and the opportunities it presents for investment.
“I can’t think of a better time in my professional career where there are such large opportunities for the smaller medium enterprises in food and drink” he said.
The Forum discussed how important agriculture is for the Great Southern Region and identified value-adding opportunities that will help to continue to create jobs and boost the region’s economic development in the agrifood sector.
Three successful businesses including The Lake House-Vinofood, Limeburners and Dellendale Creamery provided an insight into the strategies that helped them grow and expand and how they had overcome challenges along the way.
The event was catered by Three Anchors who sourced an impressive array of produce, premium products and indigenous flavours, all from the Great Southern region.
As part of the forum, a workshop using innovative facilitation technologies captured the participants’ ideas of how businesses, government and industry can guide growth of value-adding in the region.
Marketing and branding for premium food and beverage businesses was identified as a key area of support required. The FII team have been working to secure a number of workshops on this topic and more that will be rolled out in the region over the next year.
Also highlighted were a range of business support initiatives including the department’ s new FII Expert for a Day program which is an example of how government can support the growth of premium agrifood businesses.
The outcomes of the forum’s facilitated workshops will feed into the Food Industry Innovation capacity building program to ensure that premium food and beverage business needs are met.
For more information about the forum please contact Kaylene Parker on phone +61 (08) 9892 8416 or email FoodIndustryInnovation@dpird.wa.gov.au