Australians prefer local foods: Report
The latest FOODmap report revealed Australian consumers are increasingly showing a preference for ‘local’ food products, offering opportunity for food processors.
Compiled by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, the FOODmap report analyses food distribution channels for major categories within the Australian food industry, from producer to consumer.
“Despite fluctuations in sentiment, there is evidence that consumers continue to hold positive attitudes towards local products and local providers,” the report suggested.
Tailored marketing
Opportunities exist for Australian food manufacturers that have an ability to capitalise on tailored marketing of local products and providers.
“A local supply chain can offer the benefit of increased flexibility and tailoring to meet local demand, and potentially shorter lead times,” it said.
The report suggested that this local preference might be a way to galvanise the advantages held by local or domestic processing supply chains against competitive threats from greater volumes of imported products.
Food manufacturers could also capitalise on another emerging opportunity in the country’s food market, the report said, which is arising out of an ageing, health-conscious population.
“The general ageing of the population results in an increase in the size of the mature aged consumer segment who continue to demand convenient, healthy and functional food,” the report said.
“Further, through the institutional sector, there is demand for tasty, nutritious food, including part-prepared food.”
