Hellenic Exporters Face Australian Market Challenges

The event is one of the nation's biggest culinary shows, and offers global importers and distributors the opportunity to showcase their goods and network with leading industry professionals. Only nine Greek and eight Cypriot participants set up stands at this year's exhibition. Both nations offered standard items, while Cyprus featured Panayiotis Ice Cream for dogs. 1,000 culinary experts competed again each other from all parts of the world.

The Greek State Commissioner for Trade in Australia Vaianos Oreopoulos-Kelenis described what Greece and Cyprus are up against to Neos Kosmos, "The biggest challenge is the Australian market itself, it's a peculiar market, it's not an easy market at all, because Australia has developed to the maximum, to an optimum level".

Oreopoulos-Kelenis added, "An exhibitor here at the Greek stall, they produce feta cheese and yoghurt of excellent quality, they've already incorporated with an importer here in Sydney, but so far in 40 years it has only imported two containers, which is basically zero".

One of the largest challenges Hellenic companies are met with is establishing a trustworthy Australian distributor. The Greek Commissioner explained, "I have heard a lot of stories of Greek exporters who have sent emails to Australian companies or Australian Greek companies, and they never get a reply...If they don't develop face to face communication it won't work".