Queensland company driving bold new look for sustainable beef
It’s a cornerstone of Queensland’s export industry. Valued at $7.1 billion and regularly consumed in more than 60 countries around the world, Queensland beef is comfortably the state’s largest agricultural export.
Paradigm Foods at the 2023 Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards
The industry though is increasingly conscious of environmental and sustainability considerations, with one proud Queensland business leading the way.
You could call it a new paradigm in meat.
Driven by a passion to bring real, premium meat to plates across the globe, Paradigm Foods was born in 2018 to challenge the norms of the traditional meat industry.
Paradigm Food’s products occupy a niche space within the red meat industry, with a variety of brands including Muse Fullblood Wagyu, Roam Australian Wagyu, Scot Black Angus and Margra and Alba Lamb, each delivering to a unique customer or occasion.
Paradigm Foods
Paradigm Foods take a plate-led approach to product and brand development, starting with what consumers around the world want to be eating and then how Australian producers can play a role in delivering to this.
Beginning with an understanding of current and emerging eating and dining trends and demands allows the development of compelling brands with a genuine consumer connection.
And it’s been a rapid rise.
Starting with just three team members at its genesis in 2018, Paradigm Foods now employs 28 people and exports to more than 26 countries across South East Asia, China, Japan, Korea, the USA and the Middle East.
Their true point of difference though is their commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by their Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) and sustainability strategy established in the past year.
This strategy has culminated in Paradigm Foods becoming the first and only Australian beef exporter to gain B Corp Certification, as well as being awarded a prestigious 2023 Banksia Sustainability Award, the first red meat exporter to ever receive this accolade.
The sustainability focus has captured the attention of several international buyers, including gourmet French multinational Repertoire Culinaire, and inspired a new product line specifically targeted at ethically conscious consumers.
Roots Regenerative beef was born following the identification of an emerging regenerative beef trend in the US delivering a more sustainable product while rewarding and celebrating progressive Australian beef producers.
The Roots Regenerative brand has also cracked the Singapore market, featuring on the menu at the internationally renowned Marina Bay Sands hotel.
Paradigm Foods’ pioneering innovation in sustainable beef was recognised when it was named the winner in the Sustainability and Green Economy category at both the 2023 Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards and Australian Export Awards.
Paradigm Foods General Manager, Nick Thompson, said it was a fantastic reward not only for the business, but the broader sustainable beef industry.
“Paradigm Foods is only five years old, so to be able to achieve this in such a short timeframe is actually really fantastic for us,” he said.
“We didn't set out on this sustainability journey for individual glory. To us, we wanted to try and get the message out there that there are some good things happening in the red meat industry.
“We hope that we can continue to get out there and show that there is greatly, highly nutritious products that can be produced in a sustainable manner.”
Trade and Investment Queensland has provided effective support to Paradigm Foods’ export journey to date, including assistance to exhibit at the 2022 China International Import Expo (CIIE), which has resulted in a successful export outcome with a buyer in Shanghai.
Nick said TIQ had helped connect Paradigm Foods the world.
“TIQ have been incredibly helpful with our journey to have our ‘meat made better’ ethos out in the global sphere,” he said. “It’s been a great partnership.”
As the Queensland Government’s dedicated global business agency, TIQ helps Queensland exporters take their products and services to the world.
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