Census for SA food industry released
The 2021 South Australian Food and Beverage Industry Census has been released. Conducted by Food South Australia, the census shows that while the food and beverage industries have been heavily impacted by the pandemic, with its lockdowns and restrictions causing changes in consumer habits, growth is expected widely.
“The pandemic has exacerbated known challenges for our sector, particularly in terms of recruiting and retaining skilled staff,” said Food South Australia CEO Catherine Sayer.
“In addition, we have been used to being very efficient with our processing and manufacturing, but with the disruption to freight and logistics as well as the pandemic impacts all over the world, ingredients, packaging and other inputs now often need to be ordered in larger quantities and well in advance of needing them,” she said.
“This means manufacturers have had to revert from just-in-time production to having to hold stock, which is also adding significantly to the cost of doing business.”
However, around 80% of the industry is expected to actively grow in the next decade, with the remaining 20% of the industry primarily likely to undergo organic growth or business stabilisation.
The census examines the South Australian food industry widely and looks at how the sector is split up according to product category or market. The National Packaging Targets are also highlighted in the census, with the need to increase the uptake of sustainable packaging options an important factor.
“This census is an important tool which will provide valuable intelligence to food and beverage manufacturers, processors, producers and industry professionals across South Australia, allowing companies to benchmark their business against industry standards,” said South Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Stephen Patterson MP.
“It will allow South Australian businesses to track performance in terms of capability strengths, collaboration and innovation, along with emerging and high-value opportunities in domestic and international markets.
The full report is available here.
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