Honey from Forbes should get to international markets faster after Superbee became the 100th business to achieve accreditation as an Australian Trusted Trader.
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Border Force officials were in Forbes on Friday to present the certificate of accreditation, recognised in a number of key export markets with affiliate programs.
Director Ross Christiansen said more than 55 per cent of the local factory’s business is export.
Superbee opened in Forbes in 2008 and the staff of 12 now puts out about 20 tonnes of honey a week.
That’s several times the production level of when they opened, and they now also produce a range of products such as royal jelly and propolis candy, the demand for which has increased 10-fold since last year.
Australian Border Force Chief Superintendent Sneya Chatterjee said Trusted Trader was voluntary.
Export is nothing new to Superbee, but Mr Christiansen sees benefits in the program. Their freight company is also accredited.
It’s a reassurance in an international marketplace that Superbee is a legitimate and seasoned operator.
“We have had customers come out here ... to prove that we exist,” Mr Christiansen explained.
Ms Chatterjee encouraged other businesses – from small-to-medium through to large – to consider the Trusted Trader program.
“Particularly that regional areas get the opportunity, as regional Australia is the heartland of Australian export,” she said.
“From a Border perspective it is really important to us that we are able to support companies, that Australia is internationally competitive.”
