Latest news with #JalaJalaTreats
SBS Australia
6 days ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
Product makers taking home the chocolates in Indigenous business boom
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . "I'm going to have the world saying Jala Jala. But my dream is to have my own store that is inclusive of tourism, as well as manufacturing, that I can showcase on a grand scale to honour myself, chocolate, my culture, and have it as an inclusive place to come and be and experience." That's entrepreneur Sharon Brindley, founder of Jala Jala Treats, Victoria's largest Indigenous female-owned food manufacturing company. The Yamatji and Noongar woman is now beginning the process of exporting her range of native-ingredient chocolates and teas to Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. "It's stressful, it's hard, but it;s probably the most worthwhile thing I've ever done. It's given me a sense of self pride, it's filled my cup, it's grown my community to a global point." Her export dreams are being assisted by Asialink, the national centre for engagement with Asia based at the University of Melbourne, whose chief executive says businesses like Ms Brindley's resonate with markets in the region like never before. Mr Howard says there is a real demand for Indigenous products overseas. "Australian businesses, exporters, need to be really thinking about what's going to differentiate them in the market. That's why I think First Nations exporters and a lot of products they offer have a real edge and they should lean into that, but also think about where they can match that with the type of consumer segment that they are targeting." Data from Austrade shows Indigenous goods exporters generated more than $670 million in turnover in 2022/23. Now a new report from Supply Nation - a non-profit that provides Australia's biggest database of Indigenous businesses - has found that Indigenous businesses create more than 42 billion dollars of social value each year. Supply Nation CEO and Awabakal woman Kate Russell says the benefits are wide reaching - impacting business owners, their employees and communities. "The way we are defining social value is through an Indigenous lens of wellbeing. But this can include mental health, physical health, education, housing, as well as a sense of pride and aspiration for our Indigenous business, their households, and their Indigenous employees." She says every dollar of revenue equates to three dollars and sixty-six cents of social and economic value. "Importantly those entrepreneurs are generating that value purely by there shouldn't be an expectation on Indigenous businesses to go above and beyond, and provide programs that we would not expect the average small to medium enterprise to provide." Ms Brindley can attest to that. She says she created her chocolate company as a way to share language through food. "The demand is really growing for the need for our stories that are attached to the foods. I'm not just a chocolate maker, I'm more than that, I'm more than chocolate." Indigenous businesses are also having an economic impact at home in Australia. The federal government's own Indigenous procurement target has been increased to 3 percent for this financial year, with the aim to reach 4 percent by the end of the decade. A recent Commonwealth audit found two-thirds of contracts had been exempt by government departments since 2016, and often without any justification. The government has said the National Indigenous Australians Agency is working to develop stronger processes. Looking beyond the challenges, business owners like Ms Brindley have their eyes on the future. "Don't ever stop looking at your dream, because although I didn't know and I don't know how I'm going to get to that next stage... Always follow your passion, no matter where you start, you never know where you are going to end up."
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Indigenous product makers taking home the chocolates
It was buying a bar of chocolate that started Sharon Brindley on her own food manufacturing journey. The Yamatji and Noongar woman had bought the treat thinking it was from an Indigenous-owned company, going by its packaging and presentation. But when she discovered it was not, the experience inspired her business Jala Jala Treats. "It put a fire in my belly to highlight our native flavours in the chocolate space," Ms Brindley told AAP. The budding chocolatier had already gained plenty of experience in the native food space, founding Cooee Cafe and Catering on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. But she knew she wanted to get into food manufacturing to help raise awareness of First Nations businesses in the native food industry. Ms Brindley is preparing to spread that message further, beginning the process of exporting the Jala Jala Treats range of native-ingredient chocolates and teas to Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Ms Brindley said these markets have a real thirst to 'get a piece of the real Australia' through Indigenous products. "The interest from overseas is not surprising ... but I think it's coming now because they're getting a better understanding of the culture in Australia," she said. Data from Austrade shows Indigenous goods exporters generated more than $670 million in turnover in 2022/23. Her export dreams are being assisted by Asialink, the national centre for engagement with Asia based at the University of Melbourne, whose chief executive Leigh Howard said businesses like Ms Brindley's resonate with markets in the region like never before. "Buyers are seeking products with a clear story, ethical sourcing and natural ingredients, and First Nations businesses stand out, especially when stories of land care, cultural heritage and community are central to the brand," he said. A landmark report from Supply Nation released on Monday found Indigenous businesses create $42.6 billion of social value each year, including agency over life, expanded aspirations, financial security and mental health. Jala Jala Treats is now Victoria's largest Indigenous female-owned food manufacturing company. This is a double-edged sword for Ms Brindley, with First Nations businesses only owning a fraction (one per cent) of the native food industry in Australia, she said. Her hope is Jala Jala's success will help raise awareness of this, and help other businesses to grow alongside hers. "Support with exporting, but also support from people making sure they're ethically buying is super important," she said. "Although I love being the largest manufacturer in this space, it's almost sad because we deserve to be up there highlighting our products, including our native ingredients in a modern way."
