FIA Westpac Food & Beverage Industry Awards 2010 Overall Winner

The Chia Company – for Establishing a Profitable new Industry meeting Consumer Health and Wellbeing Trends in Australia and Overseas

Since the company’s establishment in 2005 and the evaluation of first trials of growing chia seeds in the Kimberley Region, The Chia Company is now the world largest producer of Chia with bulk exports to the US, NZ and South Korea. 

The Chia Company has successfully launched a range of health products for the retail market with 20 fold sales increase since early 2010 and national listing in IGA, Health Food Stores and Terry White Chemists.  Successful product trials to use Chia in bread, pasta, noodles, baked goods, beverages dairy and meat products, have lead to new product developments, such as; Brownes Yoghurt and Ancient Grains by Fonterra, Anchor Food’s Crusty Ancient Grains Bread Mix and the exclusive alliance between The Chia Company and Bakers Delight, that saw a Chia Bread Range launched in 640 stores nationally in February 2010.  A great success. 

The market response and resulting sales lead to a 200% growth of the Chia Company in 2009/10. Increased retail sales resulted in the farmers’ confidence to double their planting to 2,000 ha this year. With stage two of the Ord River scheme, the industry is forecasts to grow to $20 million over the next 5 years. The Chia Company has created a profitable and sustainable new crop option for the Kimberley area, benefiting the region by involving farmers in the Ord River Region, but also contributing to improving the diet of Australian consumers. 

Congratulations to The Chia Companies and all involved Partners