Almond Board of Australia talks diversification of almond products in a growing market
07 Nov 2023 | Almond Board of Australia
Joseph Ebbage, market development manager at the Almond Board of Australia, provides an overview of the country’s almond industry, which has grown significantly in recent years. He sees opportunities for almonds as an ingredient due to its versatility and associated health benefits. Based on the organization’s research, Ebbage highlights strong NPD with almonds, such as ready-to-eat meals, sauces and other savory dishes, to add protein and texture.
This is Yolanda from Food Ingredients First.
I'm here at Anuga in Cologne, and I'm with Joseph Ebi, who is the market development manager at the Almond Board of Australia.
Welcome.
What are you showcasing at the show this year?
We're really excited to showcase where we're at with the Australian almond industry.
So principally we're here to talk about the, the products that we grow and also obviously who are the key marketers, processors, and exporters that are able to export.
Almonds to the world and to Europe in particular.
And what can you tell us about the almond industry in Australia?
We've been growing significantly over the last two decades, and that has continued in the last 3 to 5 years with additional planting.
So we're expecting that when we look forward for the next 3 to 5 years, we'll have continued growth in production.
Nice.
And what do you see in terms of the market side, in terms of demand for Australian almonds?
What do you see happening there?
I think, I think demand will grow in line with our increasing production, so we'll probably look at a crop of around something around say 160,000 tons next year.
Within a couple of years it will be in excess of 200,000 tons, and, and we're confident that we'll find markets for our products.
Nice.
And what makes the Australian almonds, so interesting?
We grow the, the, the key, the most popular almond varieties.
Half our crop is the non-parel variety.
A third is caramel, and then we have, Monterey and Price coming through also.
We're a Southern Hemisphere crop, so we offer an alternative to the, the northern hemisphere almonds.
So we, we harvest in February, March, which is in a sense, the opposite time of the year to the northern hemisphere.
Interesting.
And you mentioned earlier that you do also some research at the almond boards.
Can you share a little bit about that?
We We know that almonds are considered to be understood to be a, a really, a very healthy food, and certainly, in particular cohorts, that's, has really some quite compelling reasons to buy and eat almonds, particularly around heart health, helping prevent and, and manage diabetes, but also very important for your tummy and gut health.
So there are some really compelling opportunities as to why people need to, should, and benefit from having almonds every day.
Interesting.
And what are you hoping for?
Or from the fair itself?
There's really two parts.
So, so we have our marketers on, on our stand.
This is a stand organized, by the industry before all our marketers.
We have 5 marketers.
And, and, and they, they probably have, they've got 2 key reasons that this is a great opportunity to meet their existing customers from all over Europe, and beyond even, plus opportunities to, to meet new potential customers.
So business development as.
And are there any particular markets that you're looking at or that the industry is looking at from Australia, like new markets or trying to get into?
I, I think it's more about new opportunities and how almonds can be used.
So we know it's a great snacking product, the little almond kernels, but I think where there's big opportunity is almonds as an ingredient.
It's an incredibly versatile, you know, tree nut.
It can be used in savory and sweet.
It can obviously be used in, as a food.
And also in beverage, you know, we see, you know, great growth in, in almond milk, and then there are lots of other, you know, dairy alternative products, cheese, yogurt, ice cream.
So in that space.
And then, you know, it's been a great opportunity here at Annuga to look at other, other, other food opportunities, other dishes, whether it be a, say, a pasta sauce or a satay.
And , lots of different products.
Any trends that you feel like, so in terms of the research we do, we, we look at new products that are launched around the world.
And over the last couple of years, for example, it's been really interesting to see, , almonds being used in, in ready to, ready to eat meals, in, in sauces, and, and, as a, as an ingredient, as, in, in savory dishes.
That's probably where we think there's a huge opportunity.
We know almonds are, are, are obviously been very popular for a long time in, in sweeter products, but savory is, and, and, and, and using almonds as a, as both a protein and also, you know, crunchy texture, has A real opportunity for the future.
And are there any challenges that the industry faces currently that you want to share about?
It is a difficult time at the moment.
We, we know that the, that almonds are, you know, require some money to, you know, to, to buy, and, and, and the cost of living pressure, is on consumers all over the world.
So I think we're all of us in the food industry are, are facing those sorts of challenges.
OK.
And what do you hope for for the next?
A couple of years for the industry.
I think continued, continued growth in the number of products that almonds can be featured in, and I, as I say, particularly in let's say, if we could grow almonds in that, in that savory meal dish, meal space, I think that would be a, a real opportunity.
Plus, of course, continued growth in our almond milk and, and that dairy area.
And plus, of course, not, not ever wanting to walk away from almonds as a, as a fantastic snack food.
