Kilcoy Global Foods exports to 35 global markets

KGF edged out fellow finalist Mort & Co, Ag Trade International and Frosty Boy Australia to take the award at a gala black tie event at Brisbane's City Hall on Wednesday evening October 6.

KGF President Australian Division Jiah Falcke said he was pleased his company's export achievements have been recognised particularly as the South East Queensland based company continues to grow its market share despite the challenges of the last 18 months.

"From our headquarters at Birtinya on the Sunshine Coast, KGF manages the production, distribution, and export of eight million cartons of premium Queensland beef annually to more than 35 global markets," Mr Falcke said.

"Despite the impact of COVID, we've still managed to grow our export base beyond our traditional key markets of South Korea, Japan and the USA to secure emerging markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

"Between Birtinya and Kilcoy where the processing plant is located, we employ around 1600+ people from 53 nationalities, and winning this export awards is a credit to the dedication and commitment of our staff and the culture we have created."

COVID has also seen KGF pivot to the domestic market supplying a growing number of Australian supermarkets, food wholesalers, fine dining establishments and popular family restaurants such as McDonalds.

Earlier this year KGF launched radio frequency identification scanners to address an industry "human factor" in packing products, where in every half million cartons, a small number may have a slight variation in the internal and external product labelling.

"The outcome of our investment in R&D is there is now 100 per cent compliance in the millions of cartons leaving our operation for both domestic and export markets.

"This type of tracking technology is vital to our business because the origin of our food and accountability at every step of our food's journey is vitally important to us and our customers," said Mr Falcke.

In the last 12 months Kilcoy Global Foods Australia has also launched an industry training Innovation Hub on Innovation Parkway at Birtinya, which is designed to simulate global best practice in food service and retail testing facilities. It features virtual reality and classroom learning, a meat processing operation, and a full theatre kitchen.

In 2020/21 KGF's top five export markets in order of sales are; South Korea 25pc, Japan pc, United States 17pc, China 13pc and Indonesia 10pc.

As the Queensland export award winner, KGF is now eligible for the Australian Export & Investment Awards which will be held by Austrade in Canberra in late November.

Kilcoy Global Foods is also an industry leader on sustainability and waste management.

Plans are underway for 80pc of electricity used at Kilcoy to be generated at the plant through waste bio generation which will also service 100% of hot water demand on site. The business is on track to be carbon neutral by 2022.