Almondco and SunRice will be inducted into the Australian Export Awards Hall of Fame in 2026 in recognition of their outstanding and sustained contribution to Australian exporting.
The Australian Export Awards, presented by Austrade, is Australia's longest-running export awards program, with 2026 being the 64th iteration of the annual event.
The Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of Australian exporters and the contribution they make to Australia’s economy and international reputation.
The Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to recognise Australian exporters who have won the same or similar national category in three separate years or five times across all categories.
Grower-owned Almondco Australia has deep roots in regional South Australia and represents more than 85 per cent of the nation’s almond growers.
It is both a dedicated almond processing and marketing company, producing premium-quality, food-safe almond products in demand worldwide, with exports making up more than 69.5 per cent of sales in 2024.
Headquartered in Renmark, the cooperative produces premium almond products for global markets and exports to countries including China, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, India and Vietnam.
Its processing facility, along with hulling and shelling operations, are located in the Riverland in South Australia and Riverina in New South Wales.
Almondco is a 5-time national Australian Export Awards finalist (in 2023, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 1996) and 3-time winner of the Regional Exporter award category in 2025, 2016 and 2011.
“Being inducted is a fantastic recognition for our grower owned business. It is a humbling acknowledgement for our members, key stakeholders and staff that have contributed to the success of the business for over 80 years,” said Brenton Woolston, managing director of Almondco.
“Thank you to Austrade and our international representatives for their continued support and in-market trade advice.”
From its beginnings when Riverina rice growers pooled their resources to establish a single mill, SunRice has become one of Australia’s leading branded food exporters.
The company now sells more than 1500 products under 45 major brands in 50 countries, with more than half of the Group’s revenue generated outside Australia.
SunRice has a strong focus and ongoing commitment to research and development to maintain Australia’s global reputation as a leader in rice products.
SunRice won its first Australian Export Award in 1969 and won again in 1974 and 1979. It won the Regional Exporter Award in 2003 and 2012 and was a finalist for the Agribusiness Award in 2014, a winner in the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages category in 2023 and a finalist in 2025.
“Being inducted into the Australian Export Awards Hall of Fame is a tremendous honour and recognition of how far SunRice Group has come over the past 75 years – from a single rice mill in the Riverina to the global rice food business we are today,” said Paul Serra, CEO and managing director of SunRice.
“The Awards have helped us strengthen international connections and showcase Australian rice to customers around the world, helping build consumer demand for the high-quality food we produce here in Australia.”
Dan Boyer, deputy CEO of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, said the inductees reflected the ambition and ingenuity that had made Australian businesses globally competitive.
“These organisations represent the very best of Australian exporting — demonstrating sustained excellence, innovation and global ambition over many years,” he said.
“Through their long-standing relationships with Austrade and our shared commitment to growing Australia’s presence in international markets, they have made an enduring contribution to Australia’s export community, economy and reputation on the world stage.”
Almondco and SunRice, along with three other inductees (PWR Advanced Cooling Technology, Resmed and UOW Global Enterprises), will be formally welcomed into the Hall of Fame at the 64th annual Australian Export Awards in Canberra on Wednesday 18 November 2026.
