Long known for their quality and value, Australian food and beverages
are now winning new fans all around the world. More and more Australian
products can be found on the menus of Michelin-star restaurants, in the
first-class cabins
of global airlines and on the shelves of high-end
retailers, including growing numbers of online stores. Visitors and
international buyers are discovering what Australians have enjoyed for some
time – we love to dine and celebrate the incredibly diverse, fresh and readily
available produce and premium products Australia has on offer.
People all over the world trust Australian food and
beverages to be premium quality, nutritious, clean and sustainably produced.
Now growing numbers of buyers are choosing Australian products for special
occasions as well as everyday enjoyment. And Victoria is, without doubt, the most prolific state, producing over half of the agriculture and farming in the country.
With local specialties like beef, wine, seafood, truffes
and olive oil ranked among the best in the world, Victoria’s unique and
diverse offerings have become a major drawcard for visitors. And recent research
showed that people who have visited Australia rank it in the top one or two
countries worldwide for food and wine experiences.
Victoria’s different regions all bring something special
to the table.
Hayley Blieden
Managing Director
Meet
Hayley Blieden, her passion for nutrition and Australian bush tucker has helped
her create The Australian Superfood Co. Her company has brought Indigenous Australian foods to the
forefront of our culinary radar, producing highly nutritious and delicious
snacks from ingredients found predominantly in the Australian bush.
Hayley holds a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics and an MBA in
Health and Human Services, but said she never wanted to be a traditional
dietician. After completing her degree Hayley started researching native
Australian ingredients and set out on a journey that took her through Alice
Springs, Uluru and remote Aboriginal communities. It was along these journeys
that she discovered delicious native ingredients but also alarming health and
education issues is some of the Indigenous communities. She wanted to find a
way to help but wasn’t sure how.
Back in the cities, nutrition and wellness had started to take
hold of the minds the public. Hayley noticed that there was a huge focus on
international superfoods but there were no home-grown alternatives on the
market. Having been exposed to the nutritional benefits of many of these foods
during her travels throughout Australia, Hayley knew that there were equally
beneficial products growing in our own backyards.
Hayley filled this hole in the market with The Australian
Superfood Co. Through a range of unique products including raw bars, superfood
powders and dried fruits the company not only promotes healthy eating and
nutrition but also showcases the natural abundance of the Australian outback
while supporting rural communities.
As one of the few companies with native products, Hayley is keen
for her brand to take on a truly Australian identity. The visual identity of
the company reflects the vibrancy of colours in the Australian landscape and
helps set the company apart from its competitors.
Hayley and her team source most of their ingredients directly
from Aboriginal communities – she has a great respect for the way Indigenous
Australians have been able to source food from the land in a sustainable way.
As people become more interested in native ingredients Hayley hopes that
working with these communities can help break the cycle of intergenerational
poverty among the poorer rural communities.
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| Australian Riberry |
The Australian Superfood Co. supports Aboriginal communities
that have provided them with both produce and knowledge. They aim to improve
education standards for Indigenous children and increase employment
opportunities. Hayley believes that we all have the ability in our lives to
make a difference, whether that be through friends and families or within our
local community.
As a new mum to baby Mila, Hayley is now busier than ever but
she is excited to see interest in Indigenous foods rising throughout Australia.
As well as building brand awareness for The Australian Superfood Co., Hayley is
committed to finding Aboriginal communities around Australia that she can
develop mutually beneficial partnerships with.
Alfred
Abbatangelo,
Owner
Following
this took a sales position for a major Italian Food Importing company and after
4 years, decided to venture into his own business. Whist travelling through Italy in 1986, Alfred
discovered the art of Grissini breadsticks made with Spelt flour. It was a
revelation, and he decided then and there to give up his job and import
grissini into Australia.
Alfred’s company, Classica International, started out as a niche company selecting only premium products of distinction. Classica International now specialize in Ancient Grain Organic Tuscan Spelt products and have the largest variety in Australia, right down to a couple of their own creations.
In 2007,
Alfred created Perfetto Mini Ciabatte Flat Breads, a healthier alternative to
water crackers and rice crackers, as well as the world’s first Spelt Panettone
without sugar, butter, margarine or preservatives.
Over the
years Alfred has created recipes and performed cooking classes and
demonstrations on how to cook with spelt (farro), this amazing ancient grain.
His passion for
good quality food and health intensified especially when his brother developed
cancer, giving him a desire to learn as much as he could about how what we eat
plays a major role in most illnesses.
