Aboriginal entrepreneurs take centre stage in NSW Fine Food showcase

Scheduled from 31 August to 3 September, Fine Food Australia attracts more than 21,000 food and beverage industry professionals each year and is one of the nation's leading trade events for businesses seeking to expand into new markets and build new commercial partnerships.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has brought together 15 businesses, including seven Aboriginal-owned enterprises, to showcase their products on the Flavours of NSW stand, providing direct access to buyers, retailers, distributors and hospitality operators from Australia and overseas.

Participants will exhibit on the trade show floor, showcase and sample their products, and take part in tailored business development activities to strengthen their pitch and build buyer connections.

The initiative will help NSW producers grow their customer base, secure new partnerships and explore export opportunities, while building the skills and confidence to make the most of Fine Food Australia before, during and after the show.

Among the businesses is LORE Australia, founded by Proud Gurungai man and environmental scientist Mr Jesse Gurugirr Lore.

After working on research projects with CSIRO and spending more than a decade as an Aboriginal Ranger with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr Lore set out to build his own Aboriginal-owned and operated native tea and beverage company using wild-harvested native ingredients.

Today, LORE Australia is helping bring Indigenous knowledge, native botanicals and contemporary beverage innovation to new audiences through a range of products featuring Kakadu Plum, Finger Lime, Lemon Myrtle, Lilly Pilly and Strawberry Gum.

At the heart of the range is Guradji, a traditional medicinal and ceremonial plant for which LORE Australia holds exclusive intellectual property rights, with knowledge of its use passed down through Mr Lore's family.

Traditionally brewed as a tea for headaches, nausea and stomach cramps, applied to wounds and swelling, and used in ceremony to welcome visitors to Gurungai Country, Guradji has been combined with other sustainably sourced native ingredients to create a uniquely Australian beverage with a strong connection to Country, culture and tradition.

For more information about the Flavours of NSW showcase, visit www.nsw.gov.au/finefood2026.

Executive Director Regional Economic Development Mr Craig Jenkins said:

"From premium regional produce to innovative Aboriginal-owned brands, these businesses represent the very best of what regional NSW has to offer.

“The Flavours of NSW stand will give businesses access to a major national trade event, allowing them to stand alongside some of the state's leading producers while reaching customers and commercial partners they may not otherwise have access to.

"Every new wholesale agreement, distribution partnership or export opportunity secured through Fine Food Australia has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for businesses long after the event, supporting growth, investment and jobs across NSW."

Proud Gomeroi yinarr and Deputy Director Aboriginal Economic Development Ms Sara Abberton said:

"The Flavours of NSW showcase is a chance to share the stories, flavours and innovation behind some of NSW's most exciting Aboriginal-owned food and beverage businesses.

"Businesses like LORE Australia are taking Indigenous knowledge and native ingredients to new audiences, creating products that are uniquely Australian and increasingly sought after.

"This program helps turn that potential into growth by connecting businesses with the people who can put their products on shelves, menus and into new markets."

Founder of Australian-owned and operated First Nation business, LORE Australia, Jesse Gurugirr Lore said:

"Being selected for the Flavours of NSW showcase is a significant endorsement of what we have built and where LORE Australia is heading.

"LORE Australia was created to make native botanicals accessible in a contemporary way while ensuring Aboriginal culture, knowledge and ownership remain at the centre of the story.

"Our products are built around Guradji, my family's traditional medicinal and ceremonial plant, which offers buyers and consumers something genuinely unique and exclusive to our brand.

"Fine Food Australia provides an incredible opportunity to connect with retailers, distributors and international partners who recognise the value of authentic Aboriginal-owned businesses and culturally significant products.

"We want people to understand that when they choose LORE Australia, they're not simply choosing a beverage, they're supporting Aboriginal ownership, cultural continuity, community opportunity and caring for Country."

Successful Flavours of NSW showcase recipients

• Australian Mustard Oil
• Byron Bay Spirits Co.
• Gather by Manuka
• Gimarra Dairy
• Indigiearth
• Jervis Bay Brewing Company
• Karkalla Byron Bay
• Kreenuts
• LORE Australia
• nunka. Australian Native Foods
• Quincey Jones Jelly Preserves Co.
• Spring Grove Fresh Food Company
• The Unexpected Guest
• Walcha Coffee
• Yaala Sparkling