Following a successful stint at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Food Expo, Lismore based meat processor, Merrick Blok has his eyes set on international exports.
Blok had a place on the NSW Government stand at the expo alongside NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner.
The expo attracted over 20,000 buyers from over 50 countries, and Blok said that the event proved to be an excellent opportunity for him to promote his premium beef products and identify new export customers.
"The government is working hard to help NSW food manufacturers win new business,” Blok told The Northern Star.
"Hong Kong was an ideal opportunity for NSW food makers to show they are ready to explore new opportunities as they come along and confidently venture into new markets."
Blok said that his products proved to be exceptionally popular at the event.
"Everyone asked about our product and the tastings and sampling were very well received," he said.
"But we're in the higher range of the meat chain and a lot of the talks we had always seemed to come down to price."
A series of reports released by peak industry group, The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) in conjunction with Austrade in July this year aimed to deepen the Australian food and beverage manufacturing industry’s understanding of opportunities that exist in a number of key Asian markets.
The reports examined opportunities for specific manufactured food products including snacks, beverages, baked goods and condiments in Malaysia, Thailand and China.
The AFGC’s CEO, Gary Dawson says that exporting to Asia can be highly challenging for Australian manufacturers, particularly SME’s with limited resources, and that it is crucial that the government works with industry to help facilitate trade.