FoodConnect launches in Singapore

Singapore - Telstra and Supermarket to Asia Council today announced the introduction of a new online, electronic trading program, FoodConnect Australia, which will make it easier for Singaporean food importers to access produce from Australia.

FoodConnect Australia, developed by Telstra and Supermarket to Asia Council, is an Internet-based electronic commerce site enabling Asian food buyers to trade, negotiate and communicate electronically with Australian agri-food businesses free of charge.

Telstra Singapore’s director, wholesale, Mr John Maguire said, “This allows for faster responses to customer’s enquiries and orders, and helps to minimise buyers’ lead times and costs.”

Among FoodConnect’s features are supplier catalogues which provide company profiles, contact details, product details, branding and images. The benefits buyers will receive from this service, according to FoodConnect, include reduced costs of sourcing quality Australian food products, fast, easy and secure ordering service, greater order accuracy and better access to market intelligence.

In addition, the Supermarket to Asia Council views FoodConnect Australia as one of its main tools for supporting easier trading with Asian countries. Mr Jim Kennedy, executive director, Supermarket to Asia Council, and CEO, Supermarket to Asia Ltd, added, “While electronic commerce does not replace the essential personal relationships built between Australia and its international trading partners, the service will provide a faster mechanism for communicating and reduce the isolation of our producers.”