The Sunshine Coast - so good you can taste it!

Delicious delights from across our great region are now bottled, wrapped and ready to tantalise tastebuds at The Wharf Mooloolaba’s newest store – Flavours of the Sunshine Coast.

Shopping locally this festive season and sharing favourite regional indulgences with family and friends is now easier than ever, with more than 50 local vendors featured in this one convenient location.

Sunshine Coast Council Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Steve Robinson said it had been a joint initiative of council and BDC Market Intelligence and was helping to raise the profile of producers and processors from across the region.

“The Sunshine Coast food and agribusiness industry is valued at more than $700 million, and council has been a key project leader working closely to collaborate with local producers, to create this unique outcome,” Cr Robinson said.

“Flavours of the Sunshine Coast also provides valuable market intelligence for us as to gaps in information, access to resources and support for businesses starting up and scaling up so council’s business support officers can better assist local business owners into the future.

“It is an exciting way to support our local businesses towards exporting in line with the objectives of our Regional Economic Development Strategy, as we work towards 20% of local goods and services being exported by 2033.”

The new store is located at The Wharf Mooloolaba and is open from 11am til 4pm Thursdays to Sundays.

Sunshine Coast Council Division 4 Councillor John Connolly said the project offered local businesses a great opportunity to collaborate and reach new markets.

“Visitors can borrow a picnic basket and fill with local meats, cheeses, breads and pastries paired with top quality condiments and head to the beach and barbecues to enjoy all that Mooloolaba has to offer,” Cr Connolly said.

“There is also a tempting range of Sunshine Coast handmade gifts, artwork, chocolates and hampers on offer, which visitors are loving to pack into their suitcases to take home as souvenirs or wrap up to put under the Christmas tree.

“Why not head down early and pick up a gourmet pastry and hemp coffee while you browse.

“Our Sunshine Coast is so good you could bottle it, and that’s exactly what we are doing.

“Flavours of the Sunshine Coast is not just reaching local residents - customers can have selected goods delivered anywhere in Australia or China, with the ease of selecting tasty morsels via your mobile phone.”

The community co-op store is a dream come true for local business owners across the Sunshine Coast who want to trial and promote their niche, artisan and boutique locally made goods.

Sunshine Coast herbalist Dominique LivKamal, owner of medicineroom.com.au, said she feels honoured to have her herbal skin and body products displayed at the local co-op store.

“I love the idea that right here on the Sunshine Coast we can have a platform where regional produce is showcased and sold to visitors and locals,” Ms LivKamal said.

“And at The Wharf, Mooloolaba. Just how cool is this place? I love bringing my friends and guests to The Wharf and now I can proudly show them my products at this great community collective store as well.

“Get down there.”

Renowned locals - Kenilworth Dairies – have also been a big favourite with the thousands of tourists disembarking from cruise ships at The Wharf Mooloolaba.

Kenilworth Dairies manager Donna Dodson said not only are their mousse and cheeses being purchased at the store, but the outlet was continuing to stimulate the local economy. “We have had some great feedback from people who have come into the store to try our products, loved them and then came out to Kenilworth to see the factory and try other local products in the region,” Ms Dodson said.

The Wharf Mooloolaba spokesperson Dirk Long, of Evans Long, said his company was also thrilled to be involved.

”I am constantly astounded by the amazing local products from our region and I have always had a passion for supporting buy-local so this is a great opportunity for us to be able to get involved and help show what wonderful things are being made here,” Mr Long said.

“The community co-op store is an incubator for the region for new products or new business to try and test their wares in safety with minimal outlay and then hopefully the fantastic people with fantastic ideas and fantastic products can start their own retail spaces here at The Wharf when they know their products sell and they have a solid customer base.”

Flavours of the Sunshine Coast project director Halinka Panzera has been working hard to ensure customers’ feedback is gathered and products can be adjusted to suit markets. Feedback will be gathered through a smart-device app as well as word of mouth and sales figures.

“Flavours of the Sunshine Coast feels to me like an incredible opportunity to grow our local, national and international businesses’ footprint ... given the range of opportunities the hub provides, I am seeing business embrace the spirit of the collective and are working in new and innovative ways together to lift our industry profile.  Customers equally are loving the experience, given the range of local items that are available for people to try, taste and tell us what they think,” she said.

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