Supporting our local producers and manufacturers
Hubs will boost business By Alicia Lüdi-Schutz
Mr Ivan Venning, RDA Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains chairman. are actually strongly attempting to buy Australian. We now have to say hey, let’s make it easier for them, inform people there is an Australian alternative or, better still, a Barossa alternative.” Collaboration between businesses is being strongly encouraged by the RDA with a Business 2 Business initiative already up and running and a new programme now under development. “What we are doing right now is creating clusters, getting businesses to hub together to do things. It’s all about local businesses helping each other,” said Ivan. “Okay, they are competitors usually, but in this instance, and it’s been proven overseas, if they get together and they do things together collectively, they all do better.” An example of a successful collaboration is the local wine industry. “People don’t mind paying the big bucks
for Barossa wine because it is marketed, it’s got a brand and people know it...it could be the same for anything, particularly with food,” said Ivan. “There are a lot of savings to be made and a lot of efficiencies to be made as well by doing things together. Rather than just compete, you say I’ll do this, you do that and we’ll put the product together and market it jointly.” The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted businesses’ ability to adapt when needed with South Australian companies successfully retooling to make other products. “We can! We’ve proven it during this COVID-19 crisis. Companies have turned around overnight and changed completely... they started making respirators and face masks. Stopped, re-learned, re-tooled and did it.” Although Ivan said it could be considered
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controversial by some, he is adamant about having a register for Australian companies. “Who owns the company? You are buying an Australian product but who owns it? All those good old Australian icons, most of them are owned by overseas companies but it doesn’t say does it? Although research will show not all foreign capital is bad, as long as it creates value and Australian jobs.” Having at least 50 percent of Australian products on shelves is also a goal that needs to be achieved. “At the moment you’re battling to have 25 percent, it’s not good enough,” said Ivan. “We are Australian and we are selling our birthright by ignoring Australian produce and ignoring Australian producers. “You’ve got to be confident, be parochial Australian and, of course, parochial Barossian!”
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A recent online survey by The Leader asking, “If a product was 25% more expensive, would you buy it if you knew it was Australian?” resulted in a resounding 82 percent saying “yes” to supporting local. Such results are the very reason chairman of RDA Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains, Mr Ivan Venning says there’s never been a better time to invest in local business. “By investing in companies, we will have more manufacturing here - we’ve had them in the past and we need them back again!” said Ivan, listing Angas Park Fruit Company in Angaston as an example of industry lost to the region. The long serving former state MP believes relying so heavily on overseas imports was unwise, especially when Australian made equivalents were available. “People go to the big hardware stores to buy a tool and as we all know, most of the products on display are made overseas...If you ask for an Australian made example, yes, they have them but they’re in a box under the counter! That’s what needs to change - we want them up on the best shelves, right up there, buy Australian, keep an Australian in a job” The issue of quality was also a message that has to be conveyed. “People need to consider that the quality of Australian made products is usually superior and it’s our job to convince the buying public and also retail businesses to buy and sell it,” said Ivan. “We are finding that the public at large