California’s New Year’s Resolution: Dine Down Under more often

Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA (January 02, 2007)   It’s that time of the year again - for making resolutions and locating your favorite Australian specialty food and wine products at Bristol Farms stores all around Southern California. 

Joining other well-known Aussie identities such as Russell Crowe, Naomi Watts and Bindi Irwin, California’s purveyor of superior international gourmet foods, Bristol Farms, is again partnering with the annual G’Day USA: Australia Week 2007 festivities to promote all that is great from the Land Down Under here in Los Angeles.

And because no Australian festivity would be complete without an Aussie barbeque, Bristol Farms Beverly West stores will again fire up the gourmet grill from 2:00-4:00pm on Saturday, January 13, 2007 where guests can sample Greg Norman’s Signature Wagyu Beef and Australian lamb. 

This is the third year Bristol Farms has sought to bring the best from Australia to our shores.  “G’Day USA: Australia Week 2007 and the promotion with Bristol Farms provides a great way for us to ensure that at least once a year, Los Angelenos get to taste, feel, wear, hear and see the best from Down Under, without ever leaving LA” says Kylie Hargreaves of the Australian Trade Commission here in LA. “Although if you fancy a quick trip Down Under to taste some of these scrumptious delights while checking out the Sydney Opera House,  Qantas is giving away two free tickets during the month long promotion.”

This year some of the ‘Top Tastes from Down Under’ products that can be found lining the shelves will include:- Greg Norman’s Signature Wagyu Beef, Australian Lamb, Brookfarm macadamia mueslis, nuts and oils, Valley Produce Company truffle infused honey and fruit pyramids, Falwasser crackers, Red Island and Yellingbo olive oils, King Island and Dairy Vale cheeses, Lea Zweier mountain bread, Maggie Beer preserves and verjus, Nutpatch Nougat and many other delights. Australian wines will also feature prominently.

Due to the success of last year’s promotion and California’s ongoing demand for quality Australian specialty and gourmet foods, Bristol Farms has expanded the 2007 promotion to include a total of 32 Australian product lines, up from 28 last year.  They have also expanded the range from just grocery items to Australian lamb and dairy products. 

Running throughout January, the promotion will be held in twelve Bristol Farm stores across Southern California providing customers unprecedented exposure to unique and delicious treats from Down Under.  

Austrade’s Business Development Manager, Peter Brennan, who has been working closely with Bristol Farms’ store managers across California, said: “The Bristol Farms promotion offers California’s discerning consumers the best Australian food and wine.  Bristol Farms’ customers are well traveled and with sophisticated palates. They showed us last year that they were eager to buy the quality Australian products on offer and we’re delighted to be working with Bristol Farms to bring even more tempting goodies to their shoppers this year.”

Mike McMahon, Bristol Farms’ food buyer, said that last year’s promotion was enjoyed by their customers. 

“Australian food and wine products never fail to impress. Our discerning Los Angeles customers are always on the lookout for the highest quality and the best tasting products from around the world and Australia always ranks highly,” he said. 

By highlighting the quality of Australian food and wine, G'Day USA: Australia Week 2007 further assists companies in this industry take advantage of improved access to the world’s largest market delivered under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement.

This event is part of G’Day USA: Australia Week 2007, which runs from 11-20 January 2007.  Over ten days, 15 events will focus on industries as diverse as entertainment, tourism, food, wine, energy, education, investment and fashion.

G’Day USA: Australia Week 2007 is produced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tourism Australia, Qantas Airways and the Australian Trade Commission.

For more information, visit www.australia-week.com

Media Contact:

Angela Lowrey, Communications Manager (USA), Australian Trade Commission

Tel: (202) 459 1066 / Email: angela.lowrey@austrade.gov.au