Festival celebrates Australian food, fashion, culture

• Envoys & Expats

by Suzette Jessica - January 31, 2015 all photos by STEPHEN MORELOS

In Photo: Cotton On’s Bobeck Burlas, Ever New’s Vicky Abary, Australian Ambassador Bill Twedell, Holster Philippines’s Mae Dee and Rip Curl’s JV Borromeo

Austrade’s Minister Counsellor & Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth and wife Kerri with Paulette McCoy Javier

MALL goers had a chance to discover what Australian food and culture were all about when the Australian Embassy in Manila celebrated its National Day with Celebrate Australia 2015, a day-long fair of all things Australian, at the Glorietta Activity Center on January 24.

Australian Embassy’s Mariel Eduarte, Ashleigh Rye and Richard Rodgers

Although Australia’s National Day is celebrated annually on January 26, the embassy jumpstarted the celebration with the fair. The event was open and free to the public.

During the event, mall-goers were treated to an array of activities.

There was a photo exhibit,Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route, that featured artworks by senior and emerging indigenous Australian artists.

Gourmets sampled the best in Australian meat, fine wine, cheeses and other products.

Mauro Orutia with Richard Rodgers

There was also a community fashion that showcased Australian apparel brands, such as BYS Cosmetics, Cotton On, Ever New, Holster and Rip Curl. The brands made available their products at a discount for the duration of the fair.

Karren Lummis, Seymour Leggs, Eygenie Alcover and Anna Sutiyono

To tie the event in Manila with the global celebration of Australia’s National Day, mall goers were enjoined to use the #AustraliaDay hashtag in all their tweets at the event.

A number of Australian groups and businesses are also presenting promotions in line with Celebrate Australia 2015. Visit the Australian Embassy’s Facebook page for more details.

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Australian Embassy, Citrus Australia launch Australian oranges promo

Australian Embassy, Citrus Australia launch Australian oranges promo

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Category: Envoys & Expats

02 Aug 2014

Written by Suzette Jessica

In Photo: Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth, Citrus Australia Ltd. Market Access Manager David Daniels, Australian Ambassador Bill Twedell and Citrus Australia Ltd. General Manager Market Development Andrew Harty

In Photo: Australian oranges have the reputation for being the sweetest in the world

AUSTRALIAN Ambassador Bill Tweddell hosted the launch of the “Australian Oranges—Now in Season” promotion at his residence, attended by retail and industry representatives. The event officially kicked off the season and availability of Australian oranges in the Philippines.

“Australian oranges have long enjoyed a reputation for being the sweetest in the world. And very important, Australian farms are known for being pollution-free with high standards of food safety. We are proud of our Australian oranges, which are ‘Sweet, Safe & Healthy,’” explained Tweddell.

“We are happy to collaborate with Citrus Australia in introducing the world’s sweetest oranges to the Philippines.  This is also the best time to do so during Australian winter, when Australian oranges are in season,” he added.

Citrus Australia General Manager of Market Development Andrew Harty explained why Australian oranges are of superior quality: “Australian oranges are very tasty because of the farming practices we have followed for many generations, the varietals Australian farmers grow, and because Australia is blessed with climatic and soil attributes ideal for growing the world’s best oranges.”

Tweddell and Harty were joined by Citrus Australia’s Market Access Manager David Daniels and Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth during the launch. Industry guests sampled a variety of excellent food and drinks that used fresh Australian oranges as key ingredient.

Daniels discussed the food-safety reputation of Australian oranges: “Every batch of oranges is tracked from the farm to the packing house, and then on the ship during its voyage to the Philippines. In this way, every box of Australian oranges purchased can be traced back to the farm they were grown. Also, Australian packing houses send samples of oranges to laboratories for testing to ensure food safety.”

“We note that there is a strong demand from Filipino consumers for fresh, tasty ingredients that is safe and healthy, and this is helping drive demand for fresh Australian citrus products,” Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth explained. “Filipinos are also looking for great value.   The Asean Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enables most temperate fruits from Australia, such as oranges, to enter the Philippines tariff-free, so Filipino consumers can enjoy affordable, fresh products without comprising food safety,” he added.

Australian Oranges—Now in Season includes a monthlong retail promotion by Citrus Australia and the Australian Embassy covering key groceries and supermarkets in Metro Manila. It runs from August through September in major supermarkets and grocery stores in Metro Manila. Shoppers and their families can enjoy the sweet, safe and healthy freshness of Australian oranges through sampling activities every weekend in Metro Manila branches of Robinsons Supermarket, Rustan’s Fresh, Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise.

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‘Market Australia’ highlights quality Australian products

‘Market Australia’ highlights quality Australian products

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Category: Envoys & Expats

15 Mar 2014

Written by Suzette Jessica

In Photo: Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony for ‘Market Australia’ in Metro Supermarket, Alabang Town Center, are (from left) Metro Retail Stores Group Food Retail General Manager Christian Nervegno, Metro Retail Stores Group President and Chief Operating Officer Eduardo Ponce, Metro Retail Stores Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Frank Gaisano, Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell and Australian Trade Commission Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth. Photo by Lorna Llanes

In its bid to develop the taste and preference of discriminating Filipino consumers, the Australian Embassy partnered with Metro Retail Stores Group to launch “Market Australia,” a three-week food and beverage festival highlighting the quality, range and diversity of Australian products that are available in the Philippines.

Australian ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Bill Tweddell. Photo by Lorna Llanes

“We are happy to partner with Metro Retail Stores Group in showcasing Australian food and beverage to let Filipino consumers know that Australian products are ‘Clean, Green and Safe,’” said Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell during the Market Australia launch on March 13 at the new Metro Supermarket in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City.

Metro Retail Stores Group President and Chief Operating Officer Eduardo Ponce expressed appreciation for the partnership. “One of the core values of Metro Retail Stores Group is forging and strengthening alliances with its business partners,” he said. “We are, therefore, gratified to have forged this partnership with the Australian Embassy Manila, and we look forward to a continued relationship in promoting and exploring new product opportunities from Australia.”

Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) senior trade commissioner Anthony Weymouth. Photo by Lorna Llanes

Metro Retail Stores Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank Gaisano and Australian Trade Commission Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth joined Tweddell and Ponce in welcoming guests to an afternoon of Australian wine, cheese, beef, lamb and fresh fruits.

Tweddell explained that Australian products are subject to high quality standards to be clean, green and safe.

“Australian food and beverages are ‘clean’ because, in Australia, we have a pristine growing environment for our livestock and produce. A clean environment ensures that only the freshest and best-quality products are produced; ‘Green’ because Australian companies utilize growing and production processes that are environmentally friendly and sustainable; and ‘Safe’ because Australia’s food-production processes have high levels of regulatory supervision and strict quality standards. We have food-safety management and traceability systems in place,” Tweddell said.

Market Australia runs from March 13 to April 6 in six Metro Supermarket branches, namely, Market! Market! in Taguig City, Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City, Marquee Mall in Pampanga, Ayala Center in Cebu, Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo and Super Metro at The District Northpoint in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

For details, contact Austrade Manila at manila@austrade.gov.au.

‘Market Australia’ highlights quality Australian products