Community & Business
4 June, 2021
From Greenmount to the world
Local producers across Queensland, such as Greenmount’s Kialla Pure Foods, have been connected to international retailers through a virtual trade fair run by the Queensland Government.
The virtual trade fair connects over 60 Queensland companies with importers and distributors in twelve major Asian markets.
It is part of Trade & Investment Queensland’s Taste of Queensland promotion.
A wide range of food and beverage products was sent to the potential buyers to sample.
Stuart Maher, Commercial Manager of Kialla Pure Foods, said the virtual trade fair is a great opportunity to expand the company into new markets.
“Given we can’t travel due to COVID, it is a great opportunity to build relationships in international markets with retailers,” Mr Maher said.
Kialla Pure Foods, located on Greenmount Eton Vale Road at Greenmount, processed a wide range of organic grains, pulses and seeds into premium bulk ingredients for retailers and manufacturers.
It sells everything from flours and minimally processed wholefoods to pancake mixes and protein smoothie blends.
After having past success expanding into the Japanese and South Korean markets with its waffle and pancake mixes, Mr Maher said Kialla Pure Foods was hoping this opportunity would help the company expand into the Taiwanese market.
Mr Maher said growth in international markets thanks to the virtual trade fair could lead to growth in the company’s operations.
“Every time we grow, it allows us to employ more local people.
“It helps us up-skill, train staff and hire more millers, administration staff and so on,” he said.
Mr Maher said the advantages to be acquired from the
virtual trade fair were more than just about gaining new customers.
“It’s about getting feedback too,” he said.
“We make assumptions about what the market might want and this gives us an opportunity to find out.”
Queensland Premier and Minister for Trade Annastacia Palaszczuk said the virtual trade push reinforces in key Asian markets that Queensland is open and keen for more business which is vital for our economic recovery.
“This novel, month long promotion has already generated very keen interest in our Asian markets with so many potential buyers already signed up for on-line meetings,” the Premier said.
In the last two years, Taste of Queensland events have resulted in more than $10 million in sales for Queensland exporters.
