Queensland producers were on show at the Taste and Trade event to close Queensland Small Business Week at the iconic Boggo Road Jail.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman welcomed more than 35 local producers at the event tonight.
"Queensland is home to a diverse range of gourmet food producers – from artisan bakers and chocolatiers to finger lime farmers," Ms Fentiman said.
"Our artisan food and beverage producers are developing delicious, unique and local products that are gaining loyal followers thanks to our fantastic Queensland produce and the passion of small business owners."
"These are business at every stage of development, from kitchen tables to commercial kitchens, from market stalls to leased warehouse, from sole traders to small and medium businesses."
"At every stage we want to reach out and help.
"That is why I'm proud to announce as part of our ongoing small business grant program, we will be launching a special grant for artisan producers opening in July."
"We are also working to tailor our fantastic Mentoring for Growth program to cater to the needs of artisan producers to ensure we are helping businesses reach their full potential.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to promoting Queenslanders to Go Local and support our local artisan industry.
"Our support also includes actions taken under our Queensland Craft Brewing Strategy, working with local brewers to find out how we can help them to succeed.
"To complement the work of this strategy, I have also asked the Better Regulation Taskforce to conduct a review of how we can streamline licensing and process requirements for artisanal food and non-alcoholic beverage producers to sell their product."
"Small businesses are critical to Queensland, and we need to make it easier to turn an innovative idea into a success story."
"Tonight's event is a showcase of local food and beverage producers to exhibit their products to a range of Queensland independent retailers, restaurants and caterers in a market-style expo."
"Small businesses are critical to Queensland, and we need to make it easier to turn an innovative idea into a success story.
"Events such as these are helping Queensland's best producers to get their big break: seeing their product stocked on a local supermarket shelf, or their creation on a restaurant menu, can be the break a small business entrepreneur needs".
"It's also an opportunity to promote our Go Local campaign and support local food producers, operators and businesses to succeed locally, nationally and internationally."
Queensland's 438,000 small businesses contribute around $113 billion to the state's economy each year and employ around 44 per cent of the private sector workforce in the state.
"I am confident we can work together to ease regulation complexities and help to make it easier for small businesses to grow."
Queensland Small Business Week 2019 is delivered by the Queensland Government in partnership with Bendigo Bank and Construction Skills Queensland and supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland.
link to photos:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=12W48KigbpQS9mCZlNfeo9lDwWF6apSSk
