MEDIA RELEASE 25 March 2010
Australian Almond Marketing Forum summary
The 2010 Australian Almond Marketing Forum was held last Thursday, 18 March
where around 100 professionals from all aspects of almond trade including food
wholesalers and health experts gathered to hear about the Australian almond
industry's brand new 2010 campaign.
The Almond Marketing Forum, named 'Brand New 2010', featured insights into
consumer behaviours, effective promotions to drive almond sales and the ABA's
public relations program. The Forum also looked into the nutritional value found
in almonds as well as an overview of Australia's key export market.
Exports of Australian almonds
The Almond Board of Australia (ABA) welcomed to the Forum visitors from various
countries including a delegation of more than 20 Indian almond traders and
distributors.
According to Julie Haslett, Forum speaker and CEO of the ABA, the demand for
almonds has doubled over the past decade with developing countries like India,
China and the Middle East driving almond consumption growth.
Approximately 63 per cent of Australian almonds are exported to 40 countries
around the world. Of those, India is Australia's largest export market for
almonds, currently importing 42 per cent of our almond exports.
Participant to the Forum Raju Bhatia, Secretary of the Association of Agri
Importers of India, said the delegation's trip to Australia was very successful.
"The quality of Australian almonds is excellent. They are India's favourites
when compared to almonds from other countries. As a result of the Forum, we are
setting up a joint Indo-Australian business council for almonds to further
increase opportunities for the trade of almonds between our two countries,"
Bhatia said.
During their visit down under, the Indian delegates were guided through
Riverland and Sunraysia, Australia's largest almond producing regions, to
witness and learn more about Australia's harvesting methods.
The Forum program also included a panel discussion on the European export
market. According to panel speaker Liam O'Gorman from UK-based GLM Trading, the
Marketing Forum was incredibly informative for both domestic and export
customers.
"The Australian almond industry has developed a measured momentum which will
turn Australia from a niche alternative supplier to Europe into a mainstream
provider of high quality almonds," O'Gorman explained.
A healthy handful
Forum speakers Sara Grafenauer, Accredited Practicing Dietitian, and Coral
Colyer, Heart Foundation Tick Operations Manager, discussed the health benefits
of Australian almonds.
"Almonds help to satisfy hunger for longer. They are high in healthy
monounsaturated fats and the antioxidant vitamin E, proven to promote
cardiovascular health. They are also rich in magnesium and potassium, essential
for proper blood flow and the maintenance of heart function," Grafenauer
explained.
Bianca Chatfield, Australian Netball team player and Melbourne Vixens Netball
team co-captain, joined the presenters to talk about the role of almonds and
good nutrition in sport.
"Kids and their parents need to understand that good nutrition is essential to
performing well in their favourite sport. Almonds are full of 'good fats' and
important nutrients that give you the required energy for your game. I have my
healthy handful of almonds everyday," Chatfield said.
The 2010 Almond Marketing Forum was an initiative of the Almond Board of
Australia (ABA). The ABA is a non-profit, membership-based organisation
representing the interests of Australian almond growers, processors and
marketers.
More information on the Almond Board of Australia is available at
www.australianalmonds.com.au
or by calling (08) 8582 2055.
Released for Almond Board of Australia by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Kim Larochelle or Gemma Crowley on (02) 9413
4244.
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