IN A major trade breakthrough Taiwanese customers can now purchase farm fresh Aussie eggs.
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The first shipment of eggs Taiwan were cleared this week, spreading excitement through the industry about new export opportunities in the region.
Queensland-based company Sunny Queen Australia got the all clear to ship 21, 000 eggs to the East Asian island after tough trade talks involving the Department of Agriculture and Austrade. The eggs will now be stocked in high-end supermarkets.
Sunny Queen Australia's managing director John O'Hara said gaining access to Taiwan was the first step in an “exciting journey” for the company.
“About a year ago we decided we needed to look at offshore markets. Like any major agribusiness we’ve found there are limited outlets we can sell our produce in Australia so we’ve set out to expand our distribution base,” Mr O’Hara said.
“Upmarket food stores are looking for a point of difference and customers are looking for food security and we can give them that.”
The company began exporting fresh eggs to Hong Kong last year and in the past it has exported to countries in the South Pacific region.
Now, Sunny Queen has Southern China in its sights.
“The market there won’t open up immediately though because we’re further down the priority list of the Free Trade Agreement but it’s certainly in the medium-term for us,” he said.
Mr O’Hara said the Asian market had no problem with caged eggs and the company would respond when demand for cage-free and organic eggs was strong enough.
The farmer-owned company is going from strength to strength.
Last year Mr O’Hara cut the ribbon on a $23 million facility built to make ready-made meals.
Sunny Queen now sells pre-prepared meals including omelettes, scrambled egg mixes, egg bakes and poached eggs. The meals are made fresh and then either pasteurised or fully cooked before being snap frozen.
“It’s quite a significant investment in a market that hasn’t been developed in Australia. We see a big future for our products in the hospital and aged care sector and on airlines,” he said.
“It couldn’t be a more exciting time for the company.”
Sunny Queen is a privately owned company. It markets, sells and distributes eggs on behalf of 20 growers in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
