The fifth annual Food and Agribusiness Network’s Meet the Makers event was held on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this week, with the entrepreneurialism, innovation and talent of the region’s food and beverage manufacturers on display. Food & Drink Business was there.
Queensland Small Business commissioner Dominique Lamb officially opened this year’s Meet the Makers (MTM) saying an “impressive 97 per cent of businesses in Queensland were small but mighty”.
“Meet the Makers is a wonderful opportunity for small businesses to create and nurture valuable commercial connections. This is a great time to make sure we not only pop in for a visit but celebrate the hard work of small businesses and, of course, shop locally,” said Lamb.
Minister for employment and small business and minister for training and skills development Di Farmer said over the past five years, Meet the Makers had grown into FAN’s signature event.
“From baked goods and craft brews to pantry staples and spirits, we know some of the most innovative and tempting food and beverage products come from businesses based in and around the bountiful Sunshine Coast.
“Meet the Makers offers more than just a tasty morsel – it attracts buyers, industry members and passionate foodies from across the country, and provides vital networking opportunities,” Farmer said.
Acting FAN CEO, Nicole McNaughton said 2023 would be the best buyer list in the history of the event.
“Over the past five years, we have seen both our exhibitor and buyer numbers grow to a point where this year we have over 200 buyers. This is just incredible and a record for us,” said McNaughton.
An excited brew
First established in Maleny, QLD, Brouhaha is one such example of innovation and talent on the Sunshine Coast. Best known for its Strawberry and Rhubarb Sour, it’s walk-in venue at Baringa hosts a rotating roster of food trucks and live music, and is also a custom-built production brewery.
The Baringa site has taken over the brewing of its core range of seven craft beers, supplying across Queensland and beyond. A 16 tap, two-level tap house looks over a 35 hectolitre brew-kit, built with traditional kettle sour making in mind, as well as an on-site canning and labelling line.
The “sour kings of Australia”, Brouhaha credits its local crew and location to its success, and doesn’t leave local product to waste; utilising multiple local businesses such as Maleny Dairy – using its yoghurt in sours production, and the Maleny Pie Guy – which uses Brouhaha’s brews for pie making.
Brouhaha currently operates two bars in both Maleny and Baringa, with Maleny acting as pilot lab for seasonal creations.
From the UK to the Sunny Coast
Liberty Loves created raw, vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free treats for 6.5 years in the UK, supplying more than 120 health food stores and cafes, as well as selling on Amazon and artisan producer selling sites.
Following a relocation to the Sunshine Coast post-Covid, Liberty Loves now works with local growers and suppliers, and has grown to supply more than 50 stores, including IGA groups, tourist attractions, Amazon AU and aims to eventually tap into the airline catering market.
At MTM it unveiled its latest product: premium quality 100 per cent local fruit powders, made using dehydrated locally sourced fruits.
Aimed at chefs to be used as a versatile ingredient, the fruit powders can be used in a variety of dishes from marinades to desserts, all while providing a cost-efficient alternative to fresh fruits, as well as a lengthy shelf-life. The range includes Orange, Lemon, Lime, Finger Lime, Davidson Plum and Strawberry.
McNaughton says in the lead up to the annual MTM event, FAN works with its exhibitors to ensure they are market-ready so that when an offer comes in from a buyer, they know they can deliver.
“It makes us proud to have created this platform that showcases some truly world-class products in a way that makes it easy to also transact business,” said McNaughton.
