Here are the finalists for the 2014 South Australian Food Industry Awards

The latest Food SA Industry Intelligence Report shows high-quality, flavoursome and healthier offerings are helping artisan producers win out over mass produced goods.

The success stories include food companies making gourmet products such as cheeses, bakery goods, cereal-based products, honey, chocolates and cured meats.

The rise of artisan products are among emerging food industry trends as consumers become more demanding, helping smaller businesses become more flexible in profitable niche markets.

Food SA chief executive Catherine Barnett said the food tourism phenomena where people are increasingly interested in the story behind their food is partially responsible for the growth in demand for artisan food.

“The emergence of farmers markets and people liking unique products for their dinner parties means they are prepared to seek out something different with a story attached to it,” Ms Barnett said.

“It is exciting times for the SA food industry because of the huge diversity of product we have from the niche end of the market to artisan suppliers and those who are successfully exporting to the world.”

The focus on boutique foods is reflected in the voting for the South Australian food industry consumer award. This year, 20 of the state’s top food businesses are in the race for top honours and will vie for public votes in the category.

Themed the State of Champions, the 2014 South Australian Food Industry Awards Program will showcase the best of South Australia’s food industry across 12 categories, culminating in the Awards Grand Final Gala Dinner to be held at the Adelaide Oval in November.

The awards recognise the efforts of the state’s food enterprises, against a backdrop of significant pressures on mass food manufacturers from supermarket chains to drive low-priced promotions, such as the $1-a-loaf bread campaign and the $1l milk campaign.

Sporting commentator HG Nelson will host the SA Food Awards Gala Dinner at the Adelaide Oval on November 21.

Vote for your favourite SA food company by September 30 with the form at the bottom of below or alternatively:

SMS — 0447 FOODSA

online — Facebook.com/safoodawards

Twitter — @safoodawards and use the #ILoveSAFood hashtag and your favourite #SAFood business name.

 

 

Finalists in the 2014 SA Food Industry Awards

Barossa Fine Foods

Barossa Fine Foods is Australia’s most awarded smallgoods maker. Family owned and run for the past 23 years, Barossa Fine Foods prides itself on the best quality product handcrafted from traditional methods and all 100 per cent gluten-free.

Since 1924, four generations of Knolls have drawn on their German heritage to handicraft the finest smallgoods and charcuterie using traditional methods and recipes.

In 2013 Barossa Fine Foods acquired fellow smallgoods company Standom Smallgoods, and is building the brand by merging factories and opening two new shops and a cafe.

With more than 230 staff and family and one of the most diverse product ranges in the country, Barossa Fine Foods has become the market leader in Award winning smallgoods.

 

Barossa Valley Cheese Co

Barossa Valley Cheese Company produces a range of soft, fresh artisan cheese with both cow and goat milk. The milk is sourced locally and the cheese is made in the heart of Angaston, Barossa Valley.

 

 

“We will always be an artisan producer, sourcing milk from local dairies and creating cheese imbued with the character of the locale and passion of the maker.”

The Barossa Valley Cheese Company’s range now includes cow and goat milk cheeses, with Victoria McClurg and her small team always seeking innovative ideas and refining traditional methods in cheesemaking.

 

Beerenberg Farms

From its humble beginnings in the Adelaide Hills, Beerenberg Farm has become a household name in Australia and its delicious products are now found in dozens of countries around the world.

Six generations of the Paech family have been working the premium land since 1839 cultivating the enduring Beerenberg commitment to flavour, quality and tradition. Using the freshest farm produce and traditional recipes, Beerenberg is respected for its mouth-watering products, with no added artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, just authentic natural flavours.

 

Bickford’s Australia

Since 1839, Bickford’s quality beverages has been part of Australia’s heritage. Known for its cordials and Iced Coffee Mix, the range has grown to a unique portfolio of new age products.

Bickford’s beverages are manufactured in a purpose built, state of the art manufacturing facility. The head office houses various plant lines, warehousing and offices, all HACCP accredited. Since 1991, the Bickford’s product range has grown significantly. Today this includes premium adult orientated carbonated sodas, fruit juices, cordials, essences and pure and flavoured waters.

 

Cummins Milling

Cummins Milling is one of the oldest flour mills in Australia. The family-owned miller has been processing wheat and rye for more than 80 years and produces a range of premium cereal flour and stockfeed products.

It has developed an extremely versatile mill that uses the latest production methods and applies them to the best grains available, resulting in a premium, clean and natural product.

Located in the heart of the grain country in Cummins on the lower Eyre Peninsula, it is ideally centrally located, allowing the easy sourcing of the best raw materials and delivery to all parts of Australia.

 

Enzo’s at Home

Enzo’s at Home began in 2004, producing restaurant quality ready-made meals. Our commercial kitchen services Enzo’s at Home franchise outlets in Adelaide Central Market, Linden Park, Hindmarsh and Flinders Park. All meals and desserts developed are inspired by recipes used by the famed Enzo’s Restaurant.

 

Fruit Wise

Fruit Wise is a proudly Australian owned company that uses Australian grown raw materials.

The Fruit Wise range of products was developed as a result of a passionate interest in healthy natural foods, free from artificial additives and preservatives.

Fruit Wise 100pc Fruit Straps are natural dehydrated 100pc fruit snacks with no added sugar, sweeteners, fat, artificial flavours or preservatives (sulphur free).

 

Haigh’s Chocolates

Haigh’s Chocolates is an Australian, fourth generation, family owned company that has been successfully making fine chocolates from the cocoa bean since opening its doors in 1915.

 

 

Haigh’s employs more than 400 people across the factory, administration and 14 retail stores. The company continues to uphold the strong tradition of quality and passion for chocolate making that originally set it apart. Using only the very best and freshest ingredients, Haigh’s is one of a few chocolate retailers in the world who still source and manufacture chocolate from the cocoa bean.

 

Humbugz Honey

Humbugz Honey is located in the South-East. David and Frances Kurkpatrick have successfully grown in the past 10 years to become a renowned family business statewide, nationally and more recently internationally.

 

 

It has developed the Humbugz brand by identifying the ‘want’ of pure, natural products in the gourmet industry. Humbugz products include: honey-filled milk and dark chocolate bars, squeeze bottles, jars, 1kg tubs and a signature product that sets Humbugz apart from the rest — Honey comb rounds.

 

Kytons Bakery

Kytons has been baking for South Australians since 1938 and is famous for award winning lamingtons and fundraising drives.

Kytons Bakery Australia is owned by Darren and Sharon Sutton. Fundraising remains the primary market. Each year they assist hundreds of schools, charities, social clubs and community groups to raise much needed funds, through lamington, pie, hot cross bun and Christmas Drives. Soft, fluffy lamingtons are the product Kytons Bakery is best known for in SA and Australia.

 

La Casa del Formaggio

La Casa Del Formaggio is a family-owned and operated Adelaide based manufacturer of fresh, Italian-style cheeses. It manufactures and wholesales for the retail, food service and industrial markets.

It was founded by the Cicchiello family in 1988. Having migrated from Italy, Gerardo and Rosa Cicciello longed for the food that they grew up with. They opened a continental deli, and Rosa’s homemade ricotta was a smash hit. They decided to focus solely on cheesemaking and the family still runs the business — their son Claude is the managing director.

 

La Vera Cheese

A small family business, La Vera Mozzarella has been operated by the Marmorale family in South Australia since 1984.

The family has a firm belief that mass produced cheeses lack the charm, delicacy and appeal of a handmade specialty cheese. Interest in price, shelf-life and uniformity of flavour are the very opposite of genuine fine cheeses made in small quantities by skilled producers.

Artisan producers such as Pino Marmorale, who recognise that cheeses thrive on care & consideration, looks after and matures his cheeses so that consumers can enjoy them at their best.

 

Laucke Flour Mills

The best bakers know that the best flour is where great baking begins. Laucke Flour Mills know the best grains to produce the best flours. Good grains, great flour!

A Family Tradition. Friedrich Laucke established his first flour mill in the Barossa Valley in 1899. Since then, four generations of the Laucke family have continued to produce quality flour and mixes and proudly remain 100pc Australian-owned and operated. The current generation of the Laucke family continues Friedrich’s original promise of quality, service and integrity.

 

Lifestyle Bakery

Lifestyle Bakery has been established for more than 10 years and is a market leader in creating and providing a unique selection of high quality bread and other baked goods. Our specialty lies in making a wide range of baked goods from a broad selection of functional ingredients that cater to the health, dietary and lifestyle requirements of our customers. Over the years we have created a nutritious and delicious selection of products that can be chosen from Gluten Free, Sprouted Grain, Wheat Alternative and Healthy Living selections. Each selection is unique in its features and benefits.

 

Lucia’s Fine Foods

Lucia’s Fine Foods is a true family business representing generations of food made with love.

Lucia Rosella moved to South Australia with her family in the 1950s and has been enchanting people with her authentic southern Italian cuisine ever since. Today, Lucia’s grandchildren continue the tradition, faithfully following her recipes, using quality seasonal ingredients, cooked by traditional methods, to the same standards set so many years ago, in their management of Lucia’s Fine Foods.

 

Nippy’s Fruit Juice

Nippy’s Fruit Juices Pty Ltd is a 100pc South Australian family-owned company producing a vast range of fresh juices, flavoured milks and other beverages.

Nippy’s is a family-owned business with a vision to retain our 70 year strong tradition as South Australia’s best known brand of fresh juices. Our product range includes premium fresh oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapefruits, tangelos and stone fruit, fresh squeezed juices, flavoured milks, long-life juices and bottled waters.

 

Spring Gully Foods

Spring Gully Foods comprises quality pickle and preserve brands Spring Gully and Gardener, as well as Leabrook Farms branded premium honey.

 

 

Spring Gully was established in 1946 by Edward McKee at Spring Gully in the Adelaide suburb of Rostrevor. Spring Gully is just one of a group of popular Australian brands which form the parent company, Spring Gully Foods Pty Ltd. The business is still family owned and operated, with an experienced fourth generation team continuing the expansion of the company into the future.

 

Talinga Grove

Talinga Grove proudly crafts ultra-premium Extra Virgin olive oils and olives from our grove in Strathalbyn. Our company provides a contemporary edge to an ancient product — and is proudly 100pc South Australian. Extra Virgin olive oil is one of the most exquisite foods you can buy for its culinary and nutritional values. Talinga Grove crafts one of Australia’s best Extra Virgin olive oils. Three generations of the family live and work on the family’s land on the Fleurieu Peninsula near Strathalbyn.

 

Tucker’s Natural

Tucker’s Natural produces an extensive range of all-natural, all-Australian, handmade, savoury crackers, dessert biscuits and healthy/functional snacks.

The Tucker’s Natural range has been created by the talents of the Tucker family, backed by more than 30 years combined experience in the international food industry. Tucker’s 100pc natural, yeast, MSG, GMO and preservative-free, all natural products are made from only the freshest and finest ingredients. They are all selected for maximum flavour, health and nutrition benefits.

 

Woodside Cheese Wrights

Woodside Cheese Wrights produces a range of traditionally hand-made cow and goat milk cheeses at its factory in the Adelaide Hills since 1994.

Woodside Cheese Wrights range of multi award winning cheeses are made with a point of difference, that express the flavour and seasonality of the milk.

Its range has developed to a sophisticated level offering more than 20 different styles, including special and limited seasonal cheeses. Woodside offers tastings and cheese making classes.

 

 

Source: news.com.au - 26th August 2014