Gulfood 2024

In February 2024, AUSVEG led a trade mission delegation to attend and exhibit at Gulfood, the world’s biggest annual food and beverage event, held from 19 February to 23 February 2024. Gulfood welcomed hundreds of thousands trade attendees from 195 countries, with 5,500 companies exhibiting at over 125 national pavilions across the different sectors of the show.

The United Arab Emirates and the Middle Eastern region are important trading partners for the Australian vegetable and onion industries, with the United Arab Emirates being the second largest destination for Australian vegetable and onion exports. The Australian vegetable industry exported $34 million at 36,714 tonnes of fresh vegetables to the United Arab Emirates in 2023.

AUSVEG stand at Gulfood 2024

AUSVEG had a 64sqm space at Gulfood, with the stand located at the World Food Sector within the Australia pavilion. The AUSVEG stand incorporated Australia’s national brand as well as providing a centralised space for fruit and vegetable growers to meet with international buyers and businesses from across the MENA region.

The delegation visited a range of retail stores in Dubai during the market insights tour, including Carrefour, Grandiose, Spinneys, Lulu Hypermarket, and Kibsons International. The main objective of the market insights tour is to assist growers to gain deeper understanding of local consumer preferences, current retail landscapes as well as packaging solutions from other markets.

AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote hosted the Australian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mr Ridwaan Jadwat, and HE Bryony Hilless, Australian Consul-General Dubai at the AUSVEG stand and discussed the fresh produce market and landscape in the United Arab Emirates as well as the Middle Eastern region.

The next Gulfood trade event will be held from 17 to 21 February 2025.

Foodex 2024

In early March 2024, AUSVEG led a trade mission delegation to attend and exhibit at Foodex Japan, held from 5 to 8 March 2024. This premier event attracted over 76,000 trade attendees from diverse sectors, making it a pivotal platform for fostering international connections and business opportunities in the Asian region.

Japan stands as a key export destination for the Australian fresh vegetable industry, with an annual export value of $9 million at 3,721 tonnes. Among the top ten most exported crops to Japan are asparagus, onions, carrots, salad beets, pumpkins, Brussels sprouts, leek, celery, cauliflowers, and broccoli.

FoodEx 2024, Japan

The delegation visited a range of retail stores in Tokyo during the market insights tour, such as Nissin World Delicatessen, National Azabu, Kinokuniya International, Seijo Ishi, and AEON. This immersive experience provided firsthand exposure to the diverse product offerings spanning from more budget-friendly grocery outlets to high-end premium supermarkets, offering participating growers valuable insights into Japan’s retail landscape and consumer preferences.

The delegation’s engagement with these retail environments offered a nuanced understanding of market dynamics and customer expectations, empowering AUSVEG and its members with actionable intelligence to enhance market positioning and expand export opportunities in Japan’s thriving market. Trade buyer interest during the FOODEX tradeshow was particularly strong with buyers seeking Australian suppliers of onions, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, pumpkins and melons.

The next Foodex trade event will be held from 11 to 14 March 2025.

Singapore FHA 2024

In April 2024, AUSVEG led a trade mission delegation to attend and exhibit at FHA Food & Beverage – Singapore’s largest B2B trade show, held from 23 to 26 April 2024. FHA Food and Beverage attracted over 60,000 local and international visitors and over 1,500 exhibitors from 52 countries, underscoring its significance as an important platform for industry networking and collaboration.

Singapore is the top export destination for Australian fresh vegetables industry worth $42 million at 22,276 tonnes in 2023. Despite market

Singapore FHA

challenges related to the rising cost of living, the Singaporean market exhibited resilience, returning to levels reminiscent of 2019, albeit with noticeable signs of a slower marketplace.

AUSVEG’s participation at FHA Food & Beverage not only highlighted Australia’s horticultural prowess but also facilitated strategic engagements with key stakeholders and industry players. The delegation visited a range of retail stores in Singapore during the market insights tour, such as CS Fresh Gold, Little Farms Market, Sheng Sion Supermarket, Cold Storage and FairPrice Finest.

This immersive experience provided a comprehensive view of market trends, consumer preferences, and emerging opportunities, equipping AUSVEG and participating growers with invaluable insights to navigate the evolving landscape of Singapore’s food and beverage sector.

AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote hosted Mr. Allaster Cox, the Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, at the AUSVEG stand, where they engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing supermarket inquiry in Australia and market access opportunities in other southeast Asian markets. Interest from trade buyers visiting the AUSVEG stand included onions, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, eschalots, and a wide variety of other Australian vegetables and fruits.

AUSVEG Fresh Produce Showcase 2024

The AUSVEG Fresh Produce Showcase event will be back on Monday 3 June 2024 in Melbourne. The AUSVEG Fresh Produce Showcase provides growers from across the country the opportunity to display their produce to leading international fresh produce buyers. The event will be running as part of the 2024 Reverse Trade Mission, which sees AUSVEG bring over 40 fresh produce buyers from more than 10 markets to Australia to showcase local horticultural production.

The international markets participating in the 2024 Reverse Trade Mission delegation includes over 40 buyers from well-recognised companies from Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Pacific Islands, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Hong Kong.

Event Details

Date: Monday 3 June 2024
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Venue: Great Room, W Melbourne
Address: 408 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

Find out more

This multi-industry project is a strategic levy investment in the Hort Innovation Melon, Onion and Vegetable Funds.

Project Number MT21009