The SunRice Group, one of Australia’s most iconic food brands, has been awarded the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages Award at the 61st Australian Export Awards held at Parliament House.
This award recognises the outstanding international success of the ASX-listed company in the field of agricultural products, including manufactured foods and beverages.
Expressing his delight at the award, SunRice Group CEO Paul Serra remarked, “This is a great achievement and will be celebrated right across our business and industry, from the paddy to the plate.”
Serra also highlighted the integral role played by the company’s people, farmers, customers, and its commitment to research and development in maintaining Australia’s global reputation as a leader in rice products.
“As a global FMCG business and one of Australia’s leading value-added food exporters with a 70+ year heritage, our success is underpinned by our great people, our farmers who are amongst the best rice growers in the world, our valued customers and our ongoing commitment to research and development to maintain Australia’s global reputation as a leader in rice products,” the CEO stated.
Despite recent legislative challenges in the form of water buybacks reintroduced by the Federal government, Serra expressed optimism about the industry’s ability to remain globally competitive and continue exporting premium rice products worldwide.
Furthermore, SunRice’s global reputation and multi-market strategy enable the company to source paddy rice from 12 different countries, including Australia.
Serra said this strategic approach allows SunRice to meet global demand and effectively navigate challenges arising from climate variability.
In the Financial Year 2023, SunRice capitalised on strong Australian rice crops to explore new opportunities in drought-affected markets like the US and Europe.
Additionally, the company re-entered premium rice tender markets in Asia, including Japan and Korea, resulting in a record naturally determined paddy price for Australian rice growers.
“This historic record is testament to the strength and provenance of the SunRice brand and the strong sales volumes achieved in premium destination markets,” concluded Serra, emphasising the company’s commitment to delivering quality products to consumers worldwide.
