The Victorian Government Trade and Investment office in Shanghai had a busy month in August/September 2022 showcasing Victorian exporters’ goods to Chinese buyers at Vic House in Shanghai. Vic House is the Victorian Government’s permanent food and beverage products pavilion open to Chinese buyers of premium Victorian goods.

Vic House’s first ever “Wellness Lab” introduced 14 Victorian personal care, beauty, well-being and food and beverage companies to more than 30 guests including business partners, fitness and lifestyle Key Opinion Leaders on 30 August 2022. The guests enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with a guided yoga and meditation session, complemented with a healthy menu while they got to know more about Victorian brands. Participating brands included: Chobani, John West, Swisse, Natio, Oli6, Blairsom, Sukin, FGB, BioE, Alya Skin and Frank Body.

The VGTI hosted “Breads and Spreads” on 15 September to introduce Laurent Bakery's artisan breads and 14 Victorian companies who, with Chef Jamie Pea, showcased the myriad of topping options on bread suited to breakfast, to high end hotel, restaurant and retail buyers.

The VGTI hosted a Craft Spirits Tasting event on 15 September at Vic House and provided a guided tasting with leading spirits expert, Martin Hao, for four Victorian brands: Yering Brandy, Vodka+, NED Whisky and Pietro Gallo grappa. The Victorian brands presented to the audience of bar, restaurant and hotel buyers with introductions to the brands and virtual distillery tours.

Upcoming events

A Summer Fruit Season Preview will be held on 20 September 2022 at Vic House to update Chinese fruit wholesalers, distributors and retailers about the upcoming Victorian fruit season, with digital information sessions from growers like Montague and LaManna Premier Group. Individual sessions with Victorian growers will enable Chinese buyers to engage in pre-season commercial discussions. VGTI staff are using pre-season events to stimulate early purchasing discussions and support growers.

On 27 September, Vic House will host a Reverse Chef Table at Vic House to showcase Victorian food products to 12 leading Shanghai chefs. Renowned Shanghai Chef Sergio Moreno will prepare a menu for the 12 chefs using Victorian beef, lamb, abalone and other ingredients. This event is part of VGTI staffs’ business development work to highlight premium Victorian produce to Shanghai’s top tier chefs.

A “Hot Pot Box” will be sent out in late September to 30 to 40 Chinese chefs at leading Chinese restaurants to promote the Chinese cuisine possibilities of premium lamb (supplied by Mastlink) and beef cuts (from Sher Wagyu). The hot pot boxes will contain high quality spices, soup bases and lamb and wagyu slices. This promotion aligns with the business development focus of Victorian leading lamb and beef exporters looking to expand sales to leading high end Chinese cuisine (and hot pot) restaurants. VGTI staff will follow up with the recipients to gauge their experience and facilitate purchase requests to Victorian companies.

Until the end of 2022, the VGTI will continue to target trade shows and events held in China relevant to Victorian exporters. This includes a Victorian trade mission to SIAL in Shanghai in December. SIAL is Shanghai's and Asia's largest and the world's 3rd biggest food exhibition.