Local Food Wins Over Wgtn

THE food companies that joined Venture Southland for a combined stand at the Wellington Food Show said they had made strong business contacts as a result.

Some of the food processors had been to the Canterbury Food Show and noticed individual businesses from Hawke’s Bay and Otago regions had set up as cluster groups.

Blue River Dairy had gone to the Christchurch show and felt “quite lost in the crowd” , marketing and sales manager Felice Andreae said.

So it and similar niche producers formed the Southland Food Group for a combined display at the Wellington show last month, co- ordinated by Venture Southland.

It was a definite success, Ms Andreae said.

“The stand that we eventually created looked fantastic. We had quite a number of visitors comment on the Southland theme.” Venture enterprise and projects co-ordinator Alisha Watt said the show was aimed at markets including hospitality, media, trade and also showcasing food to the public.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt was part of the promotion, which featured on national breakfast television.

Seriously Good Chocolate Company owner-operator Jane Stanton said she had sold almost all her product on the stand, including the Chocolate Oyster Sauce and Chocolate Oyster Cinnamon Truffles, bought by a fish and chip outlet.

Wine companies were also interested in her new range, The Story of Wine as Told by Chocolate, and she had made connections through Te Papa and the Kirkcaldie & Stains department store.

Mountain Valley Organic Meats owner Tim Gow networked with chefs and will supply meat to one of Wellington’s finest restaurants.

Other businesses that took part in the food show were Prime Smoke Stewart Island Salmon and Ngai Tahu Oysters, while a display of muttonbirds had been a huge success, Ms Andreae said.

Escape Glass provided platters to fit the Southland theme and also found contacts to supply glassware.

Escape’s management said they were keen to be part of similar food show promotions again.

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