Doing Business With International Supermarkets - 2004-2005

supermarket

Background

Getting access to the Australian consumer is becoming increasingly polarised through a supermarket industry dominated by a duopoly.  For the producer, a future opportunity lies in access to international supermarkets.  Doing business with these supermarkets offers the opportunity of expanding markets and increased trade.

From another perspective, consumer trends are showing an international convergence in tastes, creating a demand, particularly in Asia, for western style food and flavours.  Growth in Australia’s food industry, will largely be achieved through innovative value adding and increased exports. 

This project sought to undertake a business development process to assist small to medium sized enterprise (SME) food producers and companies to understand international retailing, and make choices about doing business with them. 

Objectives

  • Establish a national project with collaborators from other states.
  • Development of an integrated workshop series with a National application.
  • Develop supportive workshop tools and materials (case studies, videoed buyer interviews, supply chain CD Rom, workshop manual, etc).
  • Develop a learning process designed to underlie the workshop content (supply chain concepts, collaboration principles, innovation/value adding).
  • A process to assist export-ready companies develop trade with international supermarkets.

Key Achievements

  • Development of a national project concept with all states contributing in-kind support, and NFIS contributing funds for materials and resources of $100k.
  • Presentation made to the State Alliance Committee to seek support of a national approach with DPI Victoria leadership. The outcome was enthusiastic with good support and commitment from all states.
  • Finally this project proved unable to gain national commitment for funding. As a result, the decision has been made to cease the project.

Project Leader:  Karen Shepherd