Graz Spices for Australian Gourmets

Fabian Kinkel from the company Van den Berg Gewürze & Spirituosen became aware of export opportunities in 2023 through a newsletter from AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA and subsequently registered for the annual B2B event of the Enterprise Europe Network, MARKETPLACE AUSTRIA FOR FOOD & BEVERAGES, held in Vienna every October. This event offers Austrian participants the unique opportunity to connect with international buyers from major supermarkets and wholesalers through B2B meetings and to present their local products to them.

Equipped with exquisite delicacies and ample promotional material, Mr. Kinkel was able to conduct exciting sales talks on-site with international buyers from all over the world.

Among the participating companies was the Austrian expatriate Christian Oblak, who had traveled from Australia to Vienna specifically for this event. He operates the on Queen guesthouse in Melbourne and is currently in the process of establishing a wholesale business for delicacies from across Europe.

Following a promising initial discussion with Mr. Oblak, Fabian Kinkel subsequently took advantage of consulting appointments at the ICS regarding the Australian export market and specific export promotion opportunities. In the next step, he developed a catalog of questions for in-depth advice on relevant import regulations for food deliveries to Australia (such as labeling, nutritional and date marking, requirements for the legibility of ingredients, customs and taxes, etc.). He was supported in this by colleagues from the Foreign Trade Center Sydney.

Once all relevant information had been obtained and the formalities completed, nothing stood in the way of a delivery. Thus, in the spring of 2024, a first batch of spices and spice blends left Austria and began the long journey to Australia. The long-term goal is to list numerous Van Den Berg Gewürze products on the gourmet website www.kulinariktrends.com and thus reach as many Australian gourmets as possible.