CANBERRA: Walnut grower and processor Walnuts Australia has opened up a new market in Japan, with the first ever export of Australian walnut kernel arriving to the market in February 2016.
The company says that the recent Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, and Japan’s appetite for high quality, premium products have played major roles in opening up the export market.
“Japan is a large importer of walnut kernel, one of the largest in the world,” Walnuts Australia Sales Manager Nick Downes says. “Our new factory commissioned in 2014 has given us the capability to process and pack a high quality, origin packed product, which is enticing for consumers and retailers around the world.”
He says it’s been a fast and efficient process from the initial presentation phase in 2015 to export and marketing in Japan with partner AEON. The walnuts are sold in 500g retail packs, with Walnuts Australia branding, with an initial shipment 6 tonnes – 12,000 packs.
Although the product has only recently hit the shelves in Japan, initial feedback from the market has exceeded their expectations. “We’d sold almost 10% of the product in the first three days it was in Japan – and that’s before the Australia promotion had started. It was the single biggest sale among nuts category for that week,” he says.
“Initially we were told it would take quite a while to change origin preferences with Japanese consumers, so I was really surprised at how quickly they moved through them without any additional promotion.”
Japan is known for having high expectations when it comes to produce and related products – and important factor Walnuts Australia has considered from the very start of their process exporting to Japan. “Their high specifications and expectations relate to colour, taste, freshness and overall quality, so we have made sure we meet them throughout this process,” Mr Downes says.
Walnuts Australia currently has nearly 3000 hectares of walnut trees in the Riverina region of New South Wales. A new orchard is also in development near Griffith, New South Wales, which will be finished by the end of this year. Mr Downes says that while yields are down on last season, the quality is looking to be high once again.
“We’ve had a nice warm summer perfect for growth and ripening of nuts; our irrigation and fertigation systems have allowed for large nut size and overall good quality.” Walnuts Australia currently exports to Italy, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Spain among others. It also sells product in the domestic Australian market.
