Responding to strong industry need, FAN has unveiled an exciting new pathway for food, beverage and agri businesses aimed at building capability, enabling them to grow into sustainable, profitable enterprises.
South East Queensland is quickly gaining a reputation, both nationally and internationally, as one of the most dynamic locations for new food and agribusiness investment in Australia.
Recent figures estimate the food and agri business industry on the Sunshine Coast alone is valued at just over $1billion.
To support this burgeoning industry, FAN is launching ‘Grow National’ a program that will offer startups and established businesses practical and actionable advice on a range of topics aimed at supporting their growth towards scaling up, investment attraction, distribution and ability to access new markets.
Announcing this innovative new program FAN CEO, Nicole McNaughton said, “On the back of the success we had when we ran a regional food innovation accelerator program called Grow Coastal, we realised there was a much larger need by many of our established members in being able to take their business to the next stage which includes new distribution pathways, new product development and investment attraction.
“As a result of our research, and the feedback we received from Grow Coastal, we are delighted to unveil this new program that will cater for start-ups and scale ups – leveraging a place-based approach to drive innovation and growth.
“The overall program consists of a one-day ‘fundamentals’ workshop for businesses in the start-up phase and a 10-week intensive program designed for established food, beverage and agri businesses who are looking to scale their distribution, production and market access,”
The results from Grow Coastal Food Innovation Program, which ran for three years from 2017 to 2019, resulted in:
- 37 local business and 54 co-founders (70% female) being assisted
- 51 new jobs (147% growth) created
- $2.935M in new capital invested
- revenue growth of 21%
- customer growth of 121%
Expanding this program under the banner of Grow National, FAN intends to ensure as many of their members are ready to leverage the opportunities that will become available via the ‘Buy Queensland 2032’ procurement for 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Australia’s first collaborative F&B manufacturing facility, ‘Turbine’ that is set to be built on the Sunshine Coast.
The program will cater to around 45 participants in the first year with spaces expected to go quickly. To find out how to apply or for more information go to https://foodagribusiness.org.au/grow-national/.
Grow National is proudly supported by the Advance Queensland initiative – Accelerating Female Founders Program. The program is also supported by the Turbine Precinct, Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, Moreton Bay Council and Noosa Council.