A Growing Business

The Sunshine Coast has a history steeped in agriculture and we have widely been recognized for our pineapples, sugar cane and dairy.

However, over time, industries change, adapt, grow and evolve.

Pineapples and sugar can have given way to a whole new generation of agribusinesses that are being driven by entrepreneurs who have adapted to meet our maturing tastes and willingness to experiment with new foods.

Food and Agribusiness Network

Working alongside and supporting our food and agribusiness industry is a relatively new organisation who are attracting national attention for all the right reasons.

Enter the Food and Agribusiness Network better known as FAN, and who now call the Big Pineapple home.

According to their General Manager, Emma Greenhatch, in 2017, the food and agribusiness industry in the Sunshine Coast region was valued at $700m, which was an increase of $30m on 2016.

"It also directly employs around 5,000 people”, Emma said.

Established in 2015, the idea behind FAN, was to create a platform that would support food and agribusiness operators from Gympie to Moreton Bay.

FAN is a not-for-profit, industry-led cluster and members pay an annual fee to be a part of the group.

What FAN aims to do is give members “the ability to connect, learn, promote and grow” their business through networking, knowledge sharing and using their collective strength to identify and pursue opportunities for members to grow their business sustainably.

The Food and Agribusiness sector is one of the Sunshine Coast’s Councils seven High-Value Industries and FAN have their full support.

Growing agribusiness on the Sunshine Coast

Many of the members have already felt the benefits of being a part of FAN and have seen their business grow nationally, with some even walking onto the world stage for the first time.

FAN are being lauded as a huge success and other regions across Australia are seeking to roll out their own versions in a bid to support local producers in a way that everyone will benefit.

Local businesses reaping the rewards from such collaboration include COYO, The Country Chef Bakery Co, Freeze Dry Industries, Kenilworth Dairies and Montville Coffee.

And there is more to come with companies like QCamel, who produce camel milk products attracting national and international attention.

Regional clusters driving economic development

FAN currently have a bid in to secure funding from Food Innovation Australia Limited to create new services for their members, and the results of that bid will be announced in June when the Sunshine Coast hosts a major international clusters event.

According to the Sunshine Coast Council, the conference will look at how regional clusters can help drive economic development, with the Sunshine Coast’s Food & Agribusiness Network a prime example of the benefits derived from industry sectors working collaboratively. FAN will share their local experience and insights with visiting delegates.

“Food businesses trying to expand into national and international markets all face similar challenges including consumer insights, distribution, marketing and understanding the sales channels," Emma said.

"We are working with our members to find solutions that will take their business to a whole new level and help them to scale quickly."

The Big Pineapple - home of the Sunshine Coast's food hub

With the Big Pineapple now home to FAN, Emma believes, “The Big Pineapple will become the Food Hub on the Sunshine Coast.

"We have a common vision to have a wide range of food businesses co-located where they can work collaboratively and access shared services, so they can develop new markets and accelerate growth”, Emma said.

With many of FAN’s members being recognised locally and nationally for their products and produce, all eyes are on the Sunshine Coast as we gear up to become the home of Australia’s leading food and agribusiness cluster.