Meat packing industry equipment supplier, Kentmaster, has achieved major success as a participant in Beef Australia’s international Handshakes program.
The company is heavily involved in both domestic and international beef processing sectors with success achieved through an international supply deal at Beef 2015’s Handshakes international visitor programs.
A Chinese delegation engaged in meeting during Beef’s 2015 with Kentmaster and on returning to their home country the company’s representatives commissioned Kentmaster to supply all equipment to fit-out a new abattoir in the Shandong province of China.
Kentmaster senior sales and marketing vice-president, Warren Farr, said the company has been involved with Beef Australia since 2012.
“We were a member of Beef’s Handshakes program in the past and in conjunction with Trade and Investment Queensland we were introduced to many overseas guests who visited the Beef Australia expos,” Mr Farr said.
“One of our meetings at Beef 2015 was set-up in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia and the Chinese client was able to discuss with all of us their total supply chain from paddock to live export, feedlots and slaughtering during the meeting.
“It was a very good meeting that resulted in a win for Kentmaster for a fit-out of a new Chinese abattoir.”
Mr Farr also said his company’s involvement in Beef Australia’s Handshakes program gives the business an opportunity to send personal letters of invitation to international visitors prior to the event from the information offered on the delegate registration forms, which Kentmaster plans to do again for Beef 2018.
“From the international visitor introductions and meetings that have taken place at Beef Australia, we would attribute four major contacts that we turned into real customers to our meat packing industry equipment business,” he said.
“The introductions included people from China, Papua New Guinea, South American countries, African nations, Indonesia and the Philippines.”
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According to Mr Farr the main ongoing benefit for Kentmaster’s involvement in Beef Australia and it’s international business programs has been an increase in the company’s global recognition profile.
“This is mostly evident in Africa, plus other international countries, where many potential clients say they have heard of Kentmaster from someone they know who has attended a Beef Australia expo,” he said.
Beef Australia international coordinator Anne Cover said apart from direct business-to-business connections the Handshakes offer, Beef 2018 will have meeting rooms onsite so private business meeting resulting in real dollar outcomes can take place.
“In 2015, more than 120 business meetings took place at the expo as a direct result of the connections made between Australian businesses and qualified international buyers plus investors in the Handshakes program,” Ms Cover said.
“Many of these meetings resulted in high value beef industry business outcomes both immediately and in the years after the event.”
Mr Farr said Kentmaster will be concentrating more at Beef 2018 on African and South American countries for their contacts that fit the profile, as he sees these regions as growth areas outside China and Vietnam.
“As well as our stunner equipment we will also be focusing at Beef 2018 on providing prospective clients with potential benefits in using our patented Vac San Carcass Sanitation System,” he said.
“The Vac San System will be specifically promoted to potential customers as it removes pathogens and contamination, offering better quality, more wholesome meat with extended shelf life.”
Beef 2018 will be held May 6 to 12 this year.