Chinese go ‘hyper’ for Aussie products

Austrade has invited Australian suppliers to take advantage of the massively growing Chinese retail market, by participating in this year's Australian Lifestyle Expo, held in December in Ghangzhou, China.

China's mass grocery retail sales are forecast to grow by 70% to 2011. The escalation in sales coincides with the growing phenomenon of hypermarkets, which combine supermarkets with department stores. According to Austrade, the growth is driving demand for a piece of the Australian lifestyle, including food and beverages.

"To enable Australian suppliers of lifestyle products and food and beverages to capitalise on increased demand, Austrade is inviting producers to take part in this year's Australian Lifestyle Expo 2007 in Guangzhou, China in December," said Austrade's Guangzhou-based senior trade commissioner, Alan Morrell.

"The "Australian' branded event will have no competition from other international companies, providing an opportunity to raise Australia's profile further and secure business in Guangzhou and across South China.

"Guangzhou lies at the heart of the Pearl River Delta, China's most affluent region, and demand there is strong for high-end products," he said.

Austrade's chief economist, Tim Harcourt, said that the high marketability of the country's brand has helped draw international focus to our products.

"Our brand's strength in China is driven by the resources boom, plus Chinese students attending Australian educational institutions and a rapid increase in tourism numbers. All these factors have influenced the Chinese to develop a taste for all things Australian," he said.

Constance Lim, general manager of NSW-based Native Tastes Pty Ltd, who attended the event last year, said that thanks to the Expo they have increased sales for lemon myrtle tea.

"Selling tea to China is quite an achievement because tea is part of China's staple diet. But with the Chinese becoming fond of Australian products, lemon myrtle being an Australian native has proved to be popular," Lim said.

"Exporting is really good; it helps a small business to manage the cash flow — export dollars provide a bigger volume and in my case export sale profits have enabled me to increase my local market here in Australia," she said.

There will be a vast array of Australian products and services sought by the Chinese at the Expo. They range from food and beverages to wellbeing, fashion, cosmetics, jewellery, art, retail design and other products and services.

Australian Lifestyle Expo 2007 will take place from December 7-9 in Guangzhou (the capital of Guangdong). To register for the event, phone Austrade on 13 28 78 before September 14.