Kangaroo Island Abalone Bags Three Awards

2005 Premier's Food Award Winners

Kangaroo Island Abalone has scooped three awards in the 2005 Premier’s Food Awards to become the first multiple winner in the history of the Awards.

Premier Mike Rann congratulated company Managing Director John Hall at a gala ceremony, saying the company’s innovative solution to an age-old problem attracted judges’ enthusiasm.

"By using a specialised nitrogen freezing technique Kangaroo Island Abalone has enhanced its exports in a triple award winning approach," says the Premier.

The company, based in K.I.’s Smith Bay, is Australia’s largest abalone farm, producing around 85 tonnes of abalone a year, contributing to the $4 million worth of abalone exported from South Australia this year.

The business was presented with the SARDI Leadership Through Innovation Award, NFIS Limited Leadership Through New Export Development Award and the Adelaide Produce Markets Limited Leadership Through Value Adding (Medium) Award.

Judges said Kangaroo Island Abalone was a great example of innovation overcoming problems such as remote location, power supplies and freight delays.

"The company has demonstrated that even when faced with serious infrastructure issues, that with leadership and with a commitment to innovation, development and commercialisation of a product that a viable business can flourish and realise significant achievements," they said.

K.I. Abalone began in 1995 primarily as an abalone processing plant, producing canned and vacuum-sealed abalone. Research into seafood export processes led them to investigate a nitrogen freezing technique.

The high quality characteristics of the nitrogen frozen-product has enabled K.I. Abalone to develop markets, mainly throughout Asia, where premium abalone is high in demand.

Mr Rann says the company is an outstanding example of "selling SA to the world".

"Since its beginnings in 1995, Kangaroo Island Abalone has grown to be one of the largest abalone farms in the southern hemisphere, and is ranked in the top five in the world," Mr Rann said.

"That is a terrific example of how a business can grow by using industry knowledge, innovative thinking and a strategic business approach.

"There is much to be learnt from the way this company has developed over the years, with a constant eye on their market and the future."

Mr Rann said the winners of the 2005 Premier’s Food Awards reflected the strength and diversity of the industry in SA.

"We had winners from across a range of sectors, from large seafood exporters through to small, boutique family businesses," he said.

"It shows how well the South Australian food sector is performing on a variety of levels, from the farm-gate all the way to the value-added processed goods that we export all over the world.

"The awards night is a true indication of how highly regarded our food sector is, and I congratulate all the winners."