PKN spoke to Matilda's Frozen Fruit co-founder Ruth Gallace about transparency of on-pack information on the brand's soon-to-launch frozen berries range.
The launch of frozen Australian-grown berries is now only weeks away, according to founders Ruth and Matt Gallace, who are putting the final touches on a new Australian designed and engineered processing line in the Yarra Valley. At the same time, they are trialling packaging systems – also locally sourced – that will allow for completer transparency of the source of the berries.
“We want the Matilda's brand to stand for honesty and integrity in food origin,” Ruth Gallace tells PKN.
“At different times of the year, berries will be sourced from different local farms, and it is important to us that the consumer knows this,” she said.
The origin of the product will be completely transparent – labelled on each and every bag, with no part of the product, or process, occurring offshore. To this end, an on-pack printing is currently being trialled to add the information to the pre-printed flexible pouches.
This will be the first business to produce locally grown berries in commercial quantities. Currently, Australian frozen berries are only available at farm-gate in small quantities.
Frozen strawberries, sourced from the family-owned Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm will be first to roll out nationally under the Matilda’s brand, and will be available initially in independent supermarkets.
They also plan to introduce frozen raspberries and blueberries to their product line, which will be sourced from NSW producers.
“Now we’re at the end of the Victorian season, we’re going to use fruit from our Queensland farms when it’s at its absolute peak to ensure when it hits the shelves, we know unequivocally that we’re delivering the best product we possibly can,” Ruth Gallace said.
“We have had to start this entirely from scratch.That has meant having machinery purpose built and designed, and creating a factory from the ground up,” she adds.
“The decision has meant things have taken much longer, much like an architectural house build, but we’ve chosen to take absolutely no short cuts, and we’re really proud of that. Everything about this business is Australian made.”
Ruth and Matt Gallace are also the founders of the successful Rebello's fruit cider brand.
