Trade initiatives target Singapore food and beverage markets

13/4/02
The State Government has targeted Singapore and South-East Asia's lucrative food and beverage markets with two trade initiatives under way this week promoting premium Western Australian products.
The initiatives include:

• showcasing a range of Margaret River gourmet food and beverages in the Cold Storage supermarket chain in Singapore; and

• more than 20 WA companies exhibiting their goods at Food and Hotel Asia 2002, the major food and beverage exhibition for the South-East Asia region.

State Development and Tourism Minister Clive Brown said the initiatives were part of the Asian Market Penetration program run by the Department of Industry and Technology and the Department of Agriculture.
"Singapore is one of our closest export markets and an important gateway to South-East Asia in terms of marketing our goods and creating export jobs," Mr Brown said.
Cold Storage - Singapore's second largest supermarket chain - had agreed to promote the Margaret River products in a special display area for six months at its prestige store, Jason's. The supermarket promotion was launched yesterday (April 12).
"This strategic alliance is a great foot in the door for these local companies to reach consumers in Singapore," the Minister said.
"Shoppers at Jason's include many up-market and ex-pat consumers who are the ideal target for these products.

"The promotion follows a visit to Margaret River last year by a senior Cold Storage representative, who was so impressed by the region's quality food, wine and tourism products that he offered to promote them for free in his store."
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said the exposure for the WA companies and produce was considerable.
Mr Chance said the State Government worked with the Producers' Association and Wine Industry Association in Margaret River in developing the initiative.
"The supermarket has invited some 50,000 of its VIP customers to sample the goods, and it's also agreed to undertake a media campaign and regular advertising within Singapore," he said.
"The consistent quality and production from the agriculture sector in value added products was a primary factor in securing the display.
"Twelve companies from the Margaret River region are participating in the promotion which showcases the diverse range of products available from the local dairy, viticulture and horticulture industries."
Mr Chance said 70 per cent of processed foods exported from WA are sent to Asia and this promotion is part of a multi-faceted approach to expanding that growing market.
The supermarket promotion coincided with 21 WA companies taking part in the Food and Hotel Asia 2002 exhibition in Singapore from April 9 -12.
Retailers from Asia and around the world attend this expo, providing opportunities to establish new export markets.
Listed below are names of:

• Margaret River companies featured in the Cold Storage promotion
• WA companies exhibiting at Food and Hotel Asia 2002.

Minister's office: 9222 9699
Margaret River firms taking part in Cold Storage supermarket promotion in Singapore:

• Cape Mentelle Vineyard;
• Brookland Valley;
• Moss Brothers;
• The Berry Farm;
• Vasse Felix;
• Sandalford Wines;
• Chateau Xanadu;
• Margaret River Chocolate Company;
• Margaret River Dairy Company;
• Margaret River Beverage Company;
• Houghton Wines; and
• Lenton Brae

WA companies participating in Food & Hotel Asia 2002:

• Azzura Gelati;
• Diligent Earnings Ltd;
• Golden Boronia;
• Golden Egg Farms;
• Harvey Fresh;
• Indoguna (Belmar Fine Pasta, Bluewave Seafood, Casa Dairy, Evans & Tate Wines, Norwest Golden Gleam Scallops, Princi Smallgoods, Sandalford Wines, Sealanes Fresh Fish, Pemberton Live Marron, Farm Fresh Yabbies);
• Margaret River Chocolate Company;
• Margaret River Dairy Company;
• Mills and Wares;
• Palandri Wines;
• PB Foods Ltd;
• The Good Oil Farm;
• The Produce Place;
• The Sprout Factory;
• Vasse Felix; and
• WAMMCO International

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