Big industry turn out for Fine Food Australia 2022

This year’s Fine Food Australia event has wrapped for 2022 with tens of thousands of attendees over four massive days at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre.More than 670 Australian and international exhibitors were out in force representing the food industry, featuring thousands of new product innovations, technology and service ideas from areas including catering equipment, bakery, front of the house, food products, beverages, hospitality, and retail technology, meat and seafood, packaging and more.

A delegation of 14 Pakistani exporters of food products is participating in the Australian premier exhibition, Fine Food Trade Fair being organized at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia from 5th to 8th September 2022.

The Pavilion has been organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, with local support provided by the Consulate General and Trade Commission of Pakistan, Sydney.

Pakistani exhibitors at Fine Food are showcasing a wide range of products including basmati rice, dates, pink salt, spices, jams & jellies, bakery products, confectionery, seafood, beverages, and ready-to-eat frozen products.

Muhammad Ashraf, Consul General and Trade Commissioner of Pakistan in Sydney, stated that Pakistan’s exports of food products to Australia registered an impressive increase of 32% during the last three years.

The potential for export growth is even higher, as Australia is an import market of US$ 11 billion annually for food products.

The pandemic-related restrictions had suppressed the demand for certain product categories and there is now a pent-up demand for Pakistani products in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

The Pakistani exhibitors at Fine Food Australia were: A&Y Food Industries Pvt. Ltd., Aliza’s Food Pvt. Ltd., Asian Food Industries Ltd., GNS Pakistan, Guard Rice, Hub Pak Salt Refinery, Iftekhar Ahmed & Co, Indus Rice Mills, Karmanwala International, Mehran Sea Foods, Muhammad Hashim Tajir Surma, Nawaz Trading Company, Pure Foods Co and Sharmeen Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Annual Innovation Awards

As the biggest food trade event in the Southern Hemisphere, over 100 top food experts, industry masters, baristas, and Australia’s most exciting chefs from around the country also took to the various stages for presentations and demonstrations.

One of the highlights was the annual Innovation Awards which recognize the most exciting and innovative products in the Australian marketplace, judged by top food industry experts.

“The caliber of entrants this year for the Innovation Awards was incredible,” said Product and Event Manager, Andrew Lawson. “All the nominees were phenomenal but what really set the winners apart were products that were very unique displaying a high level of innovation.”

Winners below:

Best new food service product, presented by Hello Food Service:

Clorox Australia – Glad to be Green Compostable, Baking Paper. Comprised of a unique composition of materials, as opposed to regular baking paper which has a high amount of silicone, Clorox’s product is a win for sustainability says Commercial Manager McLean Bennett. “It is costly to make but we believe in economies of scale and the environment, so we are thrilled at how it’s performed over 12 months.”

Best new retail product, presented by Retail World:

Mama Emma – Gluten-Free Potato Gnocchi with Pea Flour. About to launch on the Australian market through distributor Raw Materials, Marketing Manager Alberto Bianco said, “the product is different to other gnocchi products in that it is made from 68 percent steamed potatoes, unlike others which are made from potato flakes. The result is a superior product.”

FCSI Best new hospitality equipment, presented by FCSI:

UNOX – SPEED-X™. A game changer for commercial kitchens, SPEED-X™ is the first ever self-washing combi speed oven. “It’s a really exciting innovation as it’s the perfect combination of quality and speed,” said Managing Director Wayne Viles. “It’s just about to launch in Australia and we’re hoping it will be in hundreds of kitchens within 12 months.”

FCSI best new bakery product, presented by Baking Business:

Heuch Fresh – Weber Cooling Australia. With a natural resting time of freshly baked products taking up to a few hours, the Weber Cooling system can reduce cooling time to just over two minutes. “This greatly improves a bakery’s efficiency and output,” said Heuch Business Develop Manager Nick Hanley. “It also reduces baking time by 50 percent. This is the most costeffective cooler on the market and we are just about to launch which is exciting.”

“It was amazing to be back in Melbourne this year hosting the ultimate food trade event, in order to inspire, educate and unite this incredible industry, which is the backbone of our culture and communities,” said Mr. Lawson.

This year Fine Food Australia announced the Victorian Government is a strategic partner of the event for the first time, backing it through its Made in Victoria campaign, which celebrates Victoria as a national leader in food production and manufacturing.

Fine Food Australia is the only industry event supported by all key industry associations including Austrade, Australian Culinary Federation, Australian Food Service Advocacy Body (AFAB), Food Service Suppliers Association of Australia (FSAA), National Association of Food Equipment Suppliers (NAFES), Straight to the Source, and the Restaurant & Catering Association.

“We are proud to be supported by all the key industry bodies and associations and will continue to showcase the latest our partners have to offer, whilst also providing education and insight from industry leaders through activations and presentations. Whether you have a well-established business or are a start-up, there is something for everyone at every event. We look forward to bringing the industry together once more next year.”