Page 63 - RetailWorld-May2021-Tobacco-Updated

THE MARKETPLACE A THIRST FOR LOCAL When people ask what the secret is behind the popular taste of Bundaberg Ginger Beer, the answer is simple, says Bundaberg Brewed Drinks CEO John McLean, who points to the local factor. “For the past 50 years, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks has been committed to brewing with local ginger, cane sugar and water,” he said. “For this reason, we’re focused on fostering strong relationships with our farmers in Bundaberg and regional Queensland, some with three generations of farming experience. They’re an essential element to our recipe for success. “We’re proud of our growing partners, who do a wonderful job providing the best possible ginger, along with other real ingredients. Over the years, this has proven critical to our ability to create the perfect flavour profile associated with Bundaberg Ginger Beer. We believe our farm-to-tastebud strategy, paired with our traditional brewing process, ensures Bundaberg Ginger Beer stands out to consumers in an industry dominated by large multinationals.” To ensure the business maintains a consistent supply of ginger, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks also has its own ginger farm, where it collaborates with the central Queensland based CQUniversity on what is claimed to be a global first research and development program. “This study focuses on optimising sustainable growing techniques to develop disease-free crops with maximum flavour yield,” Mr McLean said. “We’re also building a flavour profile for ginger – another industry first that will set the standard for how ginger should taste. “We’re passing our findings and innovations from the research onto local farmers, as we believe shared knowledge is better for the industry, ensuring everyone is producing the best possible crop.” TUCKER’S BELIEFS IN LOCAL BUYING BENEFITS As an Australian family-owned business, Tucker’s Natural claims to buy as many natural and sustainable ingredients from other local Australian suppliers as possible. The business also makes all its products in South Australia. According to Tucker’s Natural owner Sam Tucker, 95 to 100 per cent of his business’s ingredients are Australian. “Buying local has many benefits,” he said. “To me the most important one is supporting the community that you work and live in. It assists in stimulating the local economy. “There’s also the element of quality control, knowing first-hand that stringent state and national standards are upheld. “\\\\\\\[In addition,\\\\\\\] buying locally is environmentally friendlier by reducing transport costs and emissions. “We know all these elements are things we want to do in our business, but we also know our customers want us to do them too.” Mr Tucker notes a recent example of local sourcing when his business was working on its Artisan Cracker range. “We wanted to launch a Lemon Myrtle & Cracked Pepper flavour, and the first place we looked was in our backyard, to Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills,” he said. “We discovered Tumbeela Native Bushfoods.” He says the husband-and-wife team Warren and Ewa Jones established the business in 1995, growing lemon myrtle and mountain pepper leaf, “driven by their passion for native flavours in food”. “We could visit, see their crops and watch their production,” Mr Tucker said. “It’s a great example of farm to plate and how businesses such as ours can support growth in the local industry.” Another “very important” supplier to Tucker’s Natural, he adds, is Laucke, a South Australian family company dating back to 1895. “Laucke Flour Mills is at the cutting edge of milling and provides us with premium specialty flours source from local farmers, for our crackers,” he said. “Based in Bridgewater and Strathalbyn in South Australia, they’re ISO quality and HACCP management accredited and assist Tucker’s Natural in batch traceability.” Mr Tucker cited a further example: “Our local Italian fruit and vegetable store sources the freshest bunches of coriander direct from the Pooraka markets for us to hand chop and blend into our Gourmet Coriander and Cracked Pepper Crackers. You can’t get more local than that.” When Tucker’s Natural does need to buy from overseas sources, for ingredients such as certain spices not commercially grown in Australia, Mr Tucker says the business gives preference to Australian owned suppliers. “When we’re unable to source locally, we use local suppliers, such as Master Butchers Co-operative, which was formed as a cooperative in 1905 by South Australian butchers,” he said. “They’re able to source certain food ingredients, such as butter, which, when Australian butter is low in stock, they can source from New Zealand for us.” MAY, 2021 RETAIL WORLD E