The Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) stands as Australia’s premier coffee event, drawing over 11,000 attendees annually. This event offers a unique platform to explore and embrace the latest trends and innovations in the coffee industry. In 2024, this event features over 200 businesses from diverse sectors, including green bean traders, packaging, machinery, roasteries, and food-based supporting industries such as plant-based milk products, tea, and water. Given the opportunity, the producer organization from Vietnam, Keto Tapasi among with Fairtrade NAPP and Fairtrade ANZ team participated in the trade fair from 12th to 14th May, 2024.
On the first day of the MICE Trade Fair, business meetings were held with various commercial leads from Australia and New Zealand. The team participated in meetings with various entities including Just Planet, Serenitea, Bean Alliance Group among others. On the final day, Fairtrade ANZ was introduced to the Indonesian trade representative, Opal Coffee, and Aslan Coffee. Elisabeth from Keto Tapasi met with IWCA representatives, and a short meeting was held with the Australian Coffee Traders Association. The return journey included travel from Melbourne to Denpasar, Bali, and finally back home, concluding the activities. Fairtrade NAPP and Fairtrade ANZ provided comprehensive support to the producer organization, Keto Tapasi. The team helped in organizing business meetings with commercial entities, conducting evaluations, learning sessions, and generating potential follow-up actions and providing logistical and travel support.
Fairtrade NAPP also supported Fairtrade ANZ in several key areas. They introduced the potential clients and partner organizations such as the Indonesian trade representative. In addition, it provided the necessary support in-depth explanations to current licensees in Sumatra and Timor Leste. Overall, this trade fair promoted the Fairtrade certified Coffee Arabica and Robusta origins from the Asia-pacific region. They also received the potential commercial leads for future. Fairtrade ANZ has been actively following up with the Indonesian Trade Minister to promote Indonesian coffee in Australia. Various commercial entities, through Fairtrade ANZ, have requested support in connecting with the producer organizations, with potential interests including Myanmar, Lao, and Sumatra origins. Furthermore, support has been extended to Keto Tapasi to help them build their capacity for independent exporting.
Fairtrade NAPP and Fairtrade ANZ’s participation in MICE 2024 underscores their commitment to supporting coffee producers and fostering new business opportunities. Through strategic meetings and collaborations, they are paving the way for enhanced market penetration and sustained growth for Fairtrade products in Australia.
