Gourmet Aussie food to tempt American taste buds

Posted by Daniel Palmer on 7th January 2009

‘G’Day USA’ Australia Week 2009 has commenced with gourmet Australian food and wine from more than 35 Australian food businesses enticing American palates during the annual month-long supermarket promotion being held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco (1-31 January).

Entering its sixth year, G’Day USA is the largest foreign country promotion held annually in the US. This year’s supermarket promotion has been expanded to include San Francisco’s renowned Andronico’s Market, in addition to Bristol Farms in Los Angeles and The Food Emporium in New York.

Woman Supermarket Shopping

Austrade’s Regional Director Americas, Grame Barty, said all three supermarket promotions will have a distinctively Aussie flavour throughout January, enticing shoppers on both coasts to buy up Australian specialities such as Wagyu beef, lamb, olive oils, fruit pastes, cheeses, seafood and wine.

“This promotion with upscale supermarket chains, Bristol Farms, Andronico’s Market and The Food Emporium, throughout January will continue to raise the profile of Australian fine foods and target American consumers and key decision makers at some of America’s top speciality food retailers in one of the largest markets in the world – home to more than 42,000 supermarket stores,” Mr Barty said.

Sally-Ann Watts, Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles, said that Australian fine foods have made significant inroads into the competitive fine food and wine marketplace across LA and the Big Apple. “Australian companies have made the most of this increased profile, with many of the participating companies enjoying long-term success as a result of the supermarket promotions held across Los Angeles and New York,” she said. “High-end supermarket chain Bristol Farms on the west coast, has 13 stores located across Los Angeles’ high net worth suburbs, including Beverly Hills, Long Beach and Hollywood – which is commonly known as the supermarket to the stars; while San Francisco’s Andronico’s Market has eight stores across the greater San Francisco Bay area.”

“On the east coast, New York’s The Food Emporium is one of the Big Apple’s most celebrated fine food stores with 16 stores across Manhattan,” Ms Watts added. “More than 40 Australian specialty and grocery product lines will be launched in their stores as a result of the new partnership, in addition to Australian cheese, lamb and seafood.”

“San Francisco’s Andronico’s Market is also new to the G’Day USA program and will feature its extensive range of existing and newly-launched Australian specialty foods at a dedicated Australian themed “Market Days” festival held across all stores, as well as highlighting its wide selection of Australian wines,” Ms Watts said.

Some of the Aussie products lining the shelves this year will include Greg Norman’s Signature Wagyu Beef, Australian Lamb, Brookfarm macadamia mueslis, nuts and oils, Valley Produce Company truffle-infused honey and fruit pyramids, Red Island and Yellingbo olive oils, and King Island Dairy cheeses.

Many of these Australian culinary delights will also be on show at Winter Fancy Food 2009 – which returns to San Francisco (18-20 January) – and is one the most significant specialty food trade shows attracting over 30,000 buyers from across the US.

A networking function will also be held at the popular ‘Roe Restaurant & Lounge’ on the evening of 18 January. This event provides an opportunity for more than 20 Australian companies participating at Winter Fancy Food to meet with leading US food and beverage buyers.

The United States is Australia’s largest trade and investment partner, with annual two-way merchandise trade between the two countries now worth more than A$47.7 billion and continues to be a valuable market for Australian businesses looking to expand internationally.