Full Experience: Day 1 & 2 (Save $100 on 6 sessions)

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Beyond Your Community:
Pathways to Growing Sales & Reaching Wider Markets in Australia
Purpose
This year’s business growth event delivers practical sessions on Pathways to Growing Sales & Reaching Wider Markets in Australia. It focuses on helping multicultural food businesses grow beyond their communities. It provides industry insights, expert‑led sessions, business support, and direct connections with industry, government, suppliers, buyers and potential partners.

Our goal is to equip entrepreneurs with the right knowledge and post‑event support to navigate the Australian food business landscape, reach wider markets, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Planned Sessions

DAY 1 
27th October 2026 | 5 .00 pm - 8.00 pm
Location: Online

PRICE FOR PROFIT – Costing and Pricing for Retail Market Success 

27th October 2026, 5.00 pm - 6.20 pm
Location: Online

Paul Woods, the COO of Gippsland Jersey, will lead a practical session to help business owners understand the true cost of producing and supplying a food product for retail. Participants will explore pricing considerations such as margins, wholesale pricing, retailer and distributor expectations, promotional costs and strategies for remaining profitable as operational costs rise

Expected Outcome: Participants understand the key costing and pricing considerations for entering retail and determine how their current pricing model can become commercially sustainable for wholesale and retail channels.

GET NOTICED - Creating A Product People Notice, Understand & Remember On Retail Shelves

27th October 2026  6.30 pm - 8.00 pm

Location: Online

A focused session led by Natalie Townsend, founder of Griffin Grace Brand Design and a packaging expert who helps food founders make smarter brand and packaging decisions so they can grow without expensive rework. Natalie will show business owners how to position their food products to stand out, communicate their story or value clearly, and compete effectively on retail shelves.

The discussion will explore packaging fundamentals, brand positioning, shelf presence, customer appeal, and how product presentation influences purchase decisions.

Expected Outcome: Participants gain practical insights into how to strengthen their packaging and brand presentation for retail success.

DAY 2
28th October 2026 | 3:30 pm- 8:00 pm
Location: Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

GET CHOSEN – What Retail Buyers Look For Before They Stock Your Food Product

28th October 2026
Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

A practical session with Tim Sheaves, a senior commercial executive with more than 25 years’ experience across retail, FMCG, wholesale and consumer health. Tim will guide food entrepreneurs on what retail and wholesale buyers consider before stocking a food product, including product presentation, pricing, supply capability, commercial readiness, and common reasons products may be rejected.

Expected Outcome: Participants leave with a clearer understanding of what they need to do and how to position their products before approaching retail and wholesale buyers.

Networking & Exhibition Breaks

28th October 2026
Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

Opportunity for attendees to have refreshments and connect with expert speakers, government and business-support organisations, service providers, potential partners and other entrepreneurs.

EXPAND– Taking a Cultural Food Brand to the Mainstream Market 

28th October 2026
Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

A practical case-study session exploring how El Jannah grew from a Lebanese family food business in Western Sydney into a widely recognised Australian brand while keeping its cultural identity at the heart of the business. Participants will examine the lessons multicultural food entrepreneurs can apply to their own businesses when positioning an authentic cultural food offering for customers beyond their immediate community.

Expected outcome: Participants identify practical lessons they can apply to make their own cultural food brands more accessible, memorable and appealing to a wider Australian customer market without losing what makes them distinctive.

BEYOND YOUR COMMUNITY – Accessing New Customer & Sales Channels

28th October 2026 
Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

A practical and insight‑rich session led by Kerrie Sheaves, Founder of NFP Ocean, a platform that helps businesses profitably grow their NFP client base while supporting NFPs to access the right resources and services to expand their impact.

Kerrie will guide multicultural food caterers, packaged food brands and producers through practical pathways into new and higher‑value markets. The session will explore opportunities across the NFP sector, community programs, institutional and corporate buyers, and partnership‑based channels.

Expected Outcome: Participants will learn how to position their offer, build trusted relationships and create sustainable new revenue opportunities in higher‑value markets.

CONNECT & THRIVE - Accessing Government and Business Support

28th October 2026 
Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

A practical panel discussion exploring pathways to accelerating business growth through free government services, educational programs and social-enterprise support services available to food-business owners.

Expected Outcome: Participants learn where to find trusted assistance for business growth, food compliance and mental wellbeing and how to access the right support when they need it.

Expert Advisory Clinic 

28th October 2026
Liverpool Power House, Casula NSW

A practical, interactive session where attendees can access short one-to-one or small-group consultations with participating industry specialists and business-support organisations.

Entrepreneurs may bring real business materials such as:

• business or growth questions, packaging materials, etc.
   

Depending on participating specialists, clinic areas may include:

• Packaging & Branding Review
  Expert assessment of packaging, presentation and brand communication, with recommendations for improvement.
• Retail Readiness Review
  Feedback on whether a product appears ready to approach retail or wholesale buyers and what gaps should be addressed.
• Costing & Pricing Review
  Guidance on pricing, margins and areas requiring further financial attention.
• Marketing & Customer Growth Review
  Practical recommendations for improving visibility, attracting new customer groups and strengthening sales pathways.
• Finance Access Guidance
  Initial guidance on financing, equipment, business planning, investment readiness and appropriate next steps.
• Buying or Selling a Food Business 
• Practical guidance on buying or selling a food business, including key considerations, due diligence, valuation, and the next steps in the transaction process. 
• Government & Business Support Navigation
  Connections and referrals to relevant government programs, regulatory guidance, industry specialists and business-support resources.
• Expected outcome: Participants leave with personalised feedback, recommended next steps and connections to people, programs and resources that can support their business beyond the event.
  
  
  Please note that some of these topics and resource persons may change subject to availability