Changes to excise tax to fast-track growth plans for Wollongong distillery
Headlands Distilling Co. secured its first export sale after responding to a stranger's request to send product samples. After tasting the distillery's gin and vodka, the stranger – a distributor with connections in Singapore's bar and restaurant industry – placed an order for 100 bottles.
The distillery turned to Austrade to supply vital tax, excise, customs, labelling and logistics information, ensuring it could price its products appropriately and meet import regulations.
'The huge advantage of working with Austrade is they have people on the ground in all the key markets who can speak with us and provide advice,' Director Thomas Simnadis says. 'Through one agency we have access to the world at our fingertips.'
Austrade is rapidly scaling up its services to support Australian agri-exporters expand and diversify their markets as part of the Agribusiness Expansion Initiative.
In another boost to Headlands' fortunes, the Government announced it was increasing the excise refund cap for distillers and breweries in its latest Budget.
'The changes in excise tax will free up resources that will pave the way for us to hire more people, further invest in R&D and bolster our presence in overseas markets,' Simnadis says.
