Your monthly FANmail update.

We are excited to be re-connecting with our FAN community in person next week at our August Member Meet-Up - which has sold out! The team is also back in our office at the Ginger Factory. To adhere to new workplace protocols, we kindly ask that you call us in advance of meetings and catch-ups.

We have been working hard to enhance our digital offering and it's great to see members connecting and engaging across our platforms. I encourage you to jump onto our updated member resources section on FANConnect and be inspired by our Industry Insights and Innovation series.

Yours in collaboration
Emma Greenhatch

FAN NEWS & UPDATES

New Board Director
We welcome Craig Agnew, Director of Happy Snack Company to FAN's Board. Craig has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 2001 and was the founding CEO of The Botanical Food Company (Gourmet Garden) where he developed the strategy and oversaw the launch of the Gourmet Garden brand in the US and Canada. In addition to his extensive food manufacturing experience, Craig sits on a number of other not for profit boards and is looking forward to contributing to FAN's future direction. Craig replaces Kylie Watson from Nutworks and we thank Kylie for her support.

Making Connections
Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing details of upcoming FAN Member Meet-ups (pending and adhering to any COVID regulations). If you would like to host a Member Meet-up or have suggestions for topics to be covered at an event, please drop us a line.

Profile and promotion
Our valued partner Food Innovation Australia Ltd this week launched the 5th edition of 'Celebrating Australian Food and Agribusiness Innovations' showcasing some fantastic stories of FAN Members. This year's book celebrates and showcases the work of clusters and FAN is proud to be featured alongside our members Big Heart Bamboo, Fable Food Co, Glass House Brewery, Brouhaha Brewery, KOKOPOD and partner EPIC Assist. It's a great read for anyone who is interested in collaborations, innovations and new trends in our food industry. READ HERE.

Export Programme update
Our recent Export Masterclass attracted a great response, with 10 FAN members now moving on to one-one mentoring to do a deeper dive into export for their respective businesses. This programme is a collaboration between FAN and Export Connect and proudly supported by Sunshine Coast Council, Trade and Investment Queensland and RDA Sunshine Coast.

MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

Info session for hospitality businesses

This presentation gives a brief overview of the issue of single use plastics (and increased use during this time), the current rules (and confusion) for cafes and restaurants around reusables in QLD, and provides some practical solutions to assist both businesses and customers to lessen their plastic usage. The presentation is supported by Sunshine Coast Council's Living Smart Program. REGISTER HERE.

Info session - Export Market Development Grants
This information session puts you in touch with an experienced member of the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) team and covers a range of topics including introduction to EMDG, how to get the best out of the EMDG scheme, and recent changes to the scheme for 2019-2020 claims in regards to COVID impacts. This session is presented by Austrade. REGISTER HERE.

REKO Ring Dayboro

"It is the best sales model I have seen for my valuable and perishable produce," says Jacki Hinchey from Blue Dog Farm. Based on a Scandinavian consumption model, REKO is a pre-sold farmers market, using facebook as a platform where vendors advertise and take orders, which are then paid for direct and exchanged in a one hour window at a pre-designated pick up spot. For info contact Jack i or apply to join the FB group.

@Localfood socials
Jump over to these pages on insta and FB and help us share the love!

FANConnect Jobs Board

Got a job to advertise? Pop it on the FANConnect Jobs board and use the platform to collect the relevant data. Need some help? - watch this short tutorial on how to list a job and promote it through your own channels. Or feel free to contact Bec for a chat.

FIAL Food Safety workshop

FIAL's Food Safety Governance for Directors workshop is back by popular demand - Tuesday 15 September. This workshop is designed for Senior Manager, Executives and Company Directors to help develop organisation-wide systems and an organisational culture that can recognise, evaluate, and prevent or mitigate food safety risks. BOOK HERE

Find an EPIC employee

Looking for staff? Our valued partner EPIC Assist can work with you to find job-ready employees who will bring valuable new perspectives to your business. EPIC's consultants will work with you to break down barriers around hiring people with disability. Check out some recent success stories HERE or get in touch with FAN's dedicated consultant.

Top tips and tricks to secure grants
Grants can make a huge difference to your business expansion - but it's a timely process to navigate and as we've seen recently, can open and close rapidly! Our Grants Partner Jenny Lawson from Successful Grants has compiled some top tips for winning grant applications. Download the top tips and tricks in our Members Only resource section or contact Jenny directly to discuss your business grant readiness.

FAN MEMBER NEWS

Food and Beverage Awards Finalist

Congratulations to Michael Fox and the team at Fable Food Co on reaching the finals of this year's Food and Beverage Industry Awards in the Convenience Product of the Year category. The company, recently launched their innovative product nationally with Woolworths.

AusMumpreneur Award Nominees

Congratulations to Mandy Schultz from LuvaBerry and Karen Lindsay from Little White Goat Cheese who have both been nominated for for the 2020 AusMumpreneur Awards. The nominations are a great testament to Mandy and Karen's innovative thinking, passion and hard work.

Carbon neutral world-first
Big kudos to Alejandro Cancino and the team at Fenn Foods, who have committed to offsetting all carbon emissions produced during the making of their popular Veef product - making it the first carbon neutral product of its kind. The vegan meat alternative was launched by Fenn Foods last year and is being sold in supermarkets nationally.

Local producers on Today Show

Our region's amazing local producers, including members Amrita Park Meadery, Nutworks and the Chocolate Factory & Noosa Farmers Market, were recently showcased to a national audience with a great feature on the TODAY show. Bravo to the team at Tourism Noosa and Sunshine Coast Foodie for making this happen.

QLD Govt Grant success
Nutworks and Green Valley Fingerlimes were this month both successful in receiving a Queensland Government Market Diversification and Resilience grant. The grants will be used to help both businesses diversify their operations and build market resilience.

We Eat Local Food ap
Long term FAN Member Mark Dwyer is pleased to introduce the We Eat Local phone app - a powerful, purpose-built digital platform to support local food businesses. After updating the digital platform in late 2019, the Local Food Loop became We Eat Local. Mark has partnered with Petra Hughes from Sunshine Coast Regional Food Directory for the Sunshine Coast roll-out of the app. Check out the app HERE or contact Mark for further details.

Pasture trial success
Congratulations to Global Boss International and GrowMoor Biological on the recent successful trial with Maleny Dairies. This quote from Keith Hopper says it all..."For the first time I feel there is hope for the dairy industry." Read more from ABC Sunshine Coast on the trial's success.

PM Visit to the Sunshine Coast
Our local food and agribusiness industry this month welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison to the region. Andrew Bond from Buderim Ginger, Brigid Woolnough from KOKOPOD and Heidi and Pavo Walker from Walker Seafoods each met with the PM and discussed how their businesses have coped and adapted during recent times. READ MORE HERE.

BETTER BUSINESS TIPS WITH BENTLEYS

Australian wine business finds e-commerce success after lockdown

By Jo Adams, Business Development Manager Bentleys

There’s never been a better time to share good news stories! When COVID-19 lockdowns closed restaurants, bars and hotels, Hobart’s Joseph Burton Wines saw more than 95% of its clients shut up shop. But by adopting a new perspective, hiring IT help, and acting fast, the family-owned wine business launched an e-commerce store to help their business survive the pandemic.

Looking at the figures, the new retail branch isn’t just helping the business survive – but it’s thriving like never before. Joseph Burton Wines – a client of Bentleys - have recorded stronger sales over the past few months than they did last year. How did they do it? Read the full story here.

At Bentleys, we celebrate your successes and support you in times of need. If your business needs assistance during these difficult times, our expert advisors can help. Bentleys has been working with businesses for more than 70 years and delivers strategic and operational guidance that will help you to thrive.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW FAN MEMBERS

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

At Gourmet Garden, we are passionate about making fresh herbs and spices easy for everyday cooking. Our herbs stay fresh for four weeks once opened, with no waste so you can have a herb garden ready when you are every day. Gourmet Garden works with suppliers we trust to provide only non-GMO ingredients. We formulate, source and process our products using non-GMO ingredients. Put simply, your Gourmet Garden herbs and spices are:

Australian, organically grown (where possible) herbs
Washed, chopped & prepped within 18hrs of harvesting
Made with no preservatives, pesticides or nasty stuff
Pre-prepared and ready to use
Closest to the same look, taste & aroma of fresh herbs and spices
Cared for (with tender loving care) from farm to plate

Gourmet Garden Herbs and Spices are available throughout New Zealand in the refrigerated section of the produce aisle near the fresh herbs.
It’s as easy and fresh as that!

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

Special thanks to FAN's Major Sponsors and Partners that provide significant resources towards the ongoing sustainability of FAN and the growth of our regions' food and agribusiness industry.

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING FAN

There's plenty of ways to keep up-to-date with what's happening at FAN.

Facebook Page - Keep up to date with all things FAN
FAN Instagram - Inspiring photos
Private Facebook Group - Connect with Members & news on FAN events
FAN on Linkedin - Industry news and features
Private Linkedin Group - Connect with Industry Professionals
FAN Twitter Page - FAN & industry news

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