On a cold winter Monday, the dazzling new Fazenda restaurant in Bishopsgate was alive with revellers as chefs, food sector and hospitality professionals joined representatives from the Australian Government and the Australian red meat industry to share a delicious menu full of Australian beef, as well as some good old Aussie hospitality.
The Aussie Beef Beach BBQ, where Hawaiian shirts and thongs (flip flops) were mandatory, was organised by Meat & Livestock Australia in partnership with Trade and Investment Queensland, with the aim of showcasing the very best of Australian exports to the UK food service and retail industries.
The event was a springboard for the Aussie Beef brand in the UK, which is gaining recognition since the Free Trade Agreement was signed in June 2023. It is synonymous with high-quality, premium beef products that are sustainably produced with the highest traceability and animal welfare standards.
Already available in the UK, it’s predicted that Australian beef will make its way onto more menus and retailers’ shelves as diners and buyers switch on to the premium nature of the product. Aussie beef is renowned for its consistency and superior eating quality that only comes with wide open spaces, vast verdant landscapes, and year-round sunshine — all of which combine as the perfect conditions for rearing healthy animals and producing the highest quality beef.
With market analysis suggesting that beef production is tightening in Canada, the US, the UK and the EU*, Australian beef could provide the solution to potential market shortages, especially during low season for British beef here in the UK.
The event was held in partnership with Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ).
Justin McGowan, TIQ CEO said: “Queensland farmers and beef producers have forged a global reputation for quality, with Queensland produce regularly consumed in more than 60 countries around the world.”
“We are proud to see our world class meat return to the UK courtesy of the new Free Trade Agreement, with an incredible £7.25million in exports out of Queensland already since it came into force last June.
“Beef is a cornerstone of Queensland’s export industry and reinvigorating the relationship with such a valued trade partner as the UK is critical for our tireless farmers and producers.
“Events like this provide a wonderful platform to help grow the global profile of Queensland beef in one of the world’s finest cities.”
Stephen Edwards, Meat & Livestock Australia Business Manager UK, added:
“We were thrilled to bring a little Aussie sunshine and warmth to a corner of London this evening. It was cold outside, but the atmosphere at Fazenda was fantastic, and we had a really good turnout with over 200 chefs, buyers, wholesalers, retailers, journalists and food industry contacts, all getting into the Aussie beach party spirit. I think everyone enjoyed themselves.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to our event sponsors, who helped us to give a 360-degree showcase of everything Australia has to offer, not just our beef products but the terrific seafood, wine, gin and beers we have available too. Plus, we gave our UK contacts a taste of some of our Aussie traditions – including how to BBQ Aussie style.
“In 2024 we will continue to host networking events like this to raise awareness of the ethos behind the Aussie Beef brand, which is designed to provide reassurance to the British consumer.
“At Aussie Beef we work with beef producers, that demonstrate stringent standards of sustainability, food safety, animal welfare, traceability and grading systems. If a product shares the Aussie Beef logo, it means it is a quality product that you can trust.”
Sponsors of the Aussie Beach BBQ included:
• Trade and Investment Queensland - www.tiq.qld.gov.au
• AACo Wagyu - aaco.com.au/
• Queenslander Beef - queenslanderbeef.com.au
• Fable Foods - fablefood.co
• Coopers Beer - coopers.com.au/
• Diviners Gin - www.divinersdistillery.com
• Karumba Banana Prawns - www.australfisheries.com.au/our-brands/karumba-banana-prawns
• Fox Creek Wines (Courtesy of the SA Government) - www.foxcreekwines.com/#hero
• Brown Brothers Wines - www.brownbrothers.com.au
Queensland Beef Fast Facts
• Queensland’s beef export industry is valued at £3.7 billion.
• In the 12 months to Nov 2023 Queensland beef exports were up £467 million or 14.3% from the previous year.
• Nearly half of all beef production in Australia occurs in Queensland.
• In the 12 months to Nov 2023, Queensland beef exports to the UK were valued at £8.5 million, our 22nd largest beef export market.
• However, £7.25 million or 84% of this was achieved since the UK-Australia FTA entered into force on 1 June 2023.
• A key feature of the FTA was improved access for beef exports from Australia.
More on why to buy Australian beef here: www.aussiebeefandlamb.co.uk/globalassets/true-aussie---template/protein/beef/beef-product-guide-global.pdf
