Benedict Brook, media relation manager for Woolworths, confirmed Brien’s comments and added that there are opportunities for processed food makers from New Zealand at their stores.

According to Brook, many New Zealand produced products can already be found at Woolworths' stores in Australia.

“The Rafferty's Garden range of baby food and Whittaker's chocolate are available at most of Woolworths' Australian stores as they remain popular with Australian customers,” he added

Katherine Rich, chief executive officer of the NZFGC, welcomed Brien’s comments adding that his visit indicated that Woolworths valued the NZFGC members’ contribution and the New Zealand market as a whole.

“The food sector can be challenging regardless of where the market is, but Australia remains the easiest market to do business with for a number of reasons like a common language, similar cultures, shared regulations,” she said.

Rich said that there are no regulatory hurdles to Kiwi food products going onto store shelves in Australia and that her council works very closely with the Australian Food & Grocery Council.

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