The purpose of this project was to build upon work started in 2010 to improve and validate a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) pouch approach for extending the shelf life of live Goolwa cockles, Donax deltoides (Pipi), for the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association.

The successful evolution of the MAP cockles from tray packs to pouches with excellent shelf life and more efficient processing protocol has helped position the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association quota holders to launch a new Pipi product in the domestic and export marketplace.

The present project was initiated to identify the trade preferences for packaged pipi products, particularly chilled Modified Atmosphere Packs (MAP), trade and regulatory requirements, prospective demand and indicative prices to underpin the development of a market entry strategy for the selected products in domestic and overseas markets.

Data was collected using trade interviews, field and trade studies and desk research.

Results from the project include opinions and preferences on pipis from a diverse selection of wholesale and retail seafood sellers, food retailers and supermarket chains, chefs and food writers.

Field studies and desk research identified a widespread lack of understanding of pipis as a seafood category particularly as to how they should be stored and handled at home or in retail or food service businesses to maximize shelf life. Confusion and uncertainty about the various names on pipis and other bivalve molluscs referred to as vongole, cockles or clams were other market impediments that would need to be overcome with tailored messages on packaging and on promotion collaterals such as Point Of Sale leaflets and web sites.

After evaluation of all information from trade studies and desk research, the prospective demand for chilled MAP pipis within Australia was estimated at 30 to 40 tonnes in year one at an indicative price of $12.50 to $13 per kilogram in Store for Sydney wholesalers. These outcomes are likely with traditional selling practices and minimal investment in promotion, but likely sales would be about 50-60 tonnes or more with modest investment in market promotion.

A market entry strategy has been developed to build new marketing channels reaching new consumers, particularly specialist fine food stores, lapsed pipi users and people currently using chilled New Zealand clams. This strategy does not rely on sales through existing market channels to current retail, restaurant and home users of loose pipis.

Limited field work and face to face discussions with prospective pipi importers and trade users in Hong Kong and Singapore indicated little interest in MAP pipis given Australian costs and the prevailing strong value of the Australian dollar but there is some encouraging interest in a bulk pack of frozen pipis, subject to meeting customer specifications and pricing requirements.

The market entry strategy proposed for prospective overseas markets essentially follows the same themes and marketing principles outlined for domestic markets: quality assured products tailored to the needs of the particular customer’s specifications for product quality and packing, at mutually agreeable prices and a promotional program for product launch and ongoing trade support.

Keywords: Pipis, marketing channels, sales, trading preferences, Industry

The purpose of this project was to build upon work started in 2010 to improve and validate a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) pouch approach for extending the shelf life of live Goolwa cockles, Donax deltoides (Pipi), for the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association.

The successful evolution of the MAP cockles from tray packs to pouches with excellent shelf life and more efficient processing protocol has helped position the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association quota holders to launch a new Pipi product in the domestic and export marketplace.

The present project was initiated to identify the trade preferences for packaged pipi products, particularly chilled Modified Atmosphere Packs (MAP), trade and regulatory requirements, prospective demand and indicative prices to underpin the development of a market entry strategy for the selected products in domestic and overseas markets.

Data was collected using trade interviews, field and trade studies and desk research.

Results from the project include opinions and preferences on pipis from a diverse selection of wholesale and retail seafood sellers, food retailers and supermarket chains, chefs and food writers.

Field studies and desk research identified a widespread lack of understanding of pipis as a seafood category particularly as to how they should be stored and handled at home or in retail or food service businesses to maximize shelf life. Confusion and uncertainty about the various names on pipis and other bivalve molluscs referred to as vongole, cockles or clams were other market impediments that would need to be overcome with tailored messages on packaging and on promotion collaterals such as Point Of Sale leaflets and web sites.

After evaluation of all information from trade studies and desk research, the prospective demand for chilled MAP pipis within Australia was estimated at 30 to 40 tonnes in year one at an indicative price of $12.50 to $13 per kilogram in Store for Sydney wholesalers. These outcomes are likely with traditional selling practices and minimal investment in promotion, but likely sales would be about 50-60 tonnes or more with modest investment in market promotion.

A market entry strategy has been developed to build new marketing channels reaching new consumers, particularly specialist fine food stores, lapsed pipi users and people currently using chilled New Zealand clams. This strategy does not rely on sales through existing market channels to current retail, restaurant and home users of loose pipis.

Limited field work and face to face discussions with prospective pipi importers and trade users in Hong Kong and Singapore indicated little interest in MAP pipis given Australian costs and the prevailing strong value of the Australian dollar but there is some encouraging interest in a bulk pack of frozen pipis, subject to meeting customer specifications and pricing requirements.

The market entry strategy proposed for prospective overseas markets essentially follows the same themes and marketing principles outlined for domestic markets: quality assured products tailored to the needs of the particular customer’s specifications for product quality and packing, at mutually agreeable prices and a promotional program for product launch and ongoing trade support.

Keywords: Pipis, marketing channels, sales, trading preferences, Industry

The purpose of this project was to build upon work started in 2010 to improve and validate a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) pouch approach for extending the shelf life of live Goolwa cockles, Donax deltoides (Pipi), for the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association.

The successful evolution of the MAP cockles from tray packs to pouches with excellent shelf life and more efficient processing protocol has helped position the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association quota holders to launch a new Pipi product in the domestic and export marketplace.

The present project was initiated to identify the trade preferences for packaged pipi products, particularly chilled Modified Atmosphere Packs (MAP), trade and regulatory requirements, prospective demand and indicative prices to underpin the development of a market entry strategy for the selected products in domestic and overseas markets.

Data was collected using trade interviews, field and trade studies and desk research.

Results from the project include opinions and preferences on pipis from a diverse selection of wholesale and retail seafood sellers, food retailers and supermarket chains, chefs and food writers.

Field studies and desk research identified a widespread lack of understanding of pipis as a seafood category particularly as to how they should be stored and handled at home or in retail or food service businesses to maximize shelf life. Confusion and uncertainty about the various names on pipis and other bivalve molluscs referred to as vongole, cockles or clams were other market impediments that would need to be overcome with tailored messages on packaging and on promotion collaterals such as Point Of Sale leaflets and web sites.

After evaluation of all information from trade studies and desk research, the prospective demand for chilled MAP pipis within Australia was estimated at 30 to 40 tonnes in year one at an indicative price of $12.50 to $13 per kilogram in Store for Sydney wholesalers. These outcomes are likely with traditional selling practices and minimal investment in promotion, but likely sales would be about 50-60 tonnes or more with modest investment in market promotion.

A market entry strategy has been developed to build new marketing channels reaching new consumers, particularly specialist fine food stores, lapsed pipi users and people currently using chilled New Zealand clams. This strategy does not rely on sales through existing market channels to current retail, restaurant and home users of loose pipis.

Limited field work and face to face discussions with prospective pipi importers and trade users in Hong Kong and Singapore indicated little interest in MAP pipis given Australian costs and the prevailing strong value of the Australian dollar but there is some encouraging interest in a bulk pack of frozen pipis, subject to meeting customer specifications and pricing requirements.

The market entry strategy proposed for prospective overseas markets essentially follows the same themes and marketing principles outlined for domestic markets: quality assured products tailored to the needs of the particular customer’s specifications for product quality and packing, at mutually agreeable prices and a promotional program for product launch and ongoing trade support.

Keywords: Pipis, marketing channels, sales, trading preferences, Industry

The purpose of this project was to build upon work started in 2010 to improve and validate a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) pouch approach for extending the shelf life of live Goolwa cockles, Donax deltoides (Pipi), for the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association.

The successful evolution of the MAP cockles from tray packs to pouches with excellent shelf life and more efficient processing protocol has helped position the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association quota holders to launch a new Pipi product in the domestic and export marketplace.

The present project was initiated to identify the trade preferences for packaged pipi products, particularly chilled Modified Atmosphere Packs (MAP), trade and regulatory requirements, prospective demand and indicative prices to underpin the development of a market entry strategy for the selected products in domestic and overseas markets.

Data was collected using trade interviews, field and trade studies and desk research.

Results from the project include opinions and preferences on pipis from a diverse selection of wholesale and retail seafood sellers, food retailers and supermarket chains, chefs and food writers.

Field studies and desk research identified a widespread lack of understanding of pipis as a seafood category particularly as to how they should be stored and handled at home or in retail or food service businesses to maximize shelf life. Confusion and uncertainty about the various names on pipis and other bivalve molluscs referred to as vongole, cockles or clams were other market impediments that would need to be overcome with tailored messages on packaging and on promotion collaterals such as Point Of Sale leaflets and web sites.

After evaluation of all information from trade studies and desk research, the prospective demand for chilled MAP pipis within Australia was estimated at 30 to 40 tonnes in year one at an indicative price of $12.50 to $13 per kilogram in Store for Sydney wholesalers. These outcomes are likely with traditional selling practices and minimal investment in promotion, but likely sales would be about 50-60 tonnes or more with modest investment in market promotion.

A market entry strategy has been developed to build new marketing channels reaching new consumers, particularly specialist fine food stores, lapsed pipi users and people currently using chilled New Zealand clams. This strategy does not rely on sales through existing market channels to current retail, restaurant and home users of loose pipis.

Limited field work and face to face discussions with prospective pipi importers and trade users in Hong Kong and Singapore indicated little interest in MAP pipis given Australian costs and the prevailing strong value of the Australian dollar but there is some encouraging interest in a bulk pack of frozen pipis, subject to meeting customer specifications and pricing requirements.

The market entry strategy proposed for prospective overseas markets essentially follows the same themes and marketing principles outlined for domestic markets: quality assured products tailored to the needs of the particular customer’s specifications for product quality and packing, at mutually agreeable prices and a promotional program for product launch and ongoing trade support.

Keywords: Pipis, marketing channels, sales, trading preferences, Industry

The purpose of this project was to build upon work started in 2010 to improve and validate a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) pouch approach for extending the shelf life of live Goolwa cockles, Donax deltoides (Pipi), for the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association.

The successful evolution of the MAP cockles from tray packs to pouches with excellent shelf life and more efficient processing protocol has helped position the Goolwa Pipi Harvesters Association quota holders to launch a new Pipi product in the domestic and export marketplace.

A national fisheries management workshop was held at the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre in Adelaide on 26/27 March 2014, which brought together fisheries managers from all Australian jurisdictions.  The idea of holding a workshop was promoted by the Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) (composed of the Heads of Commonwealth and State/Territory fishery management agencies), which had identified that there was no forum for fisheries managers to exchange ideas and build networks.  The task of putting the workshop together was undertaken by AFMF’s Fisheries Management Sub-Committee (FMSC), with funding support being provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).

The workshop was the first fisheries managers’ workshop since 1995, when the last of a successful series of fisheries managers’ workshops run during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s was held on Rottnest Island, WA.  In promoting the idea of a workshop AFMF noted that while there was significant cross-fertilisation between researchers through the Australian Society for Fish Biology and other forums and through National Compliance Committee for compliance officers, there was no forum specifically for fisheries managers.  As fisheries management had increased in complexity, and society was placing additional scrutiny on fisheries managers, there was a need for fisheries managers to meet as a group of professionals to exchange ideas and initiatives.

In considering a theme for the workshop FMSC noted that there was significant interest in the issues surrounding small-scale fisheries (SSFs) and that many if not most issues with SSFs were common across all the jurisdictions.  Furthermore, FMSC had been tasked by AFMF to consider matters around SSFs and provide advice back to AFMF on the development of cost effective and efficient management of SSFs.  Thus a workshop provided an ideal opportunity to explore the issue of SSFs and to look at issues and approaches in the various jurisdictions to see if there were any learnings that could be incorporated into FMSC’s advice to AFMF.

A national fisheries management workshop was held at the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre in Adelaide on 26/27 March 2014, which brought together fisheries managers from all Australian jurisdictions.  The idea of holding a workshop was promoted by the Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) (composed of the Heads of Commonwealth and State/Territory fishery management agencies), which had identified that there was no forum for fisheries managers to exchange ideas and build networks.  The task of putting the workshop together was undertaken by AFMF’s Fisheries Management Sub-Committee (FMSC), with funding support being provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).

The workshop was the first fisheries managers’ workshop since 1995, when the last of a successful series of fisheries managers’ workshops run during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s was held on Rottnest Island, WA.  In promoting the idea of a workshop AFMF noted that while there was significant cross-fertilisation between researchers through the Australian Society for Fish Biology and other forums and through National Compliance Committee for compliance officers, there was no forum specifically for fisheries managers.  As fisheries management had increased in complexity, and society was placing additional scrutiny on fisheries managers, there was a need for fisheries managers to meet as a group of professionals to exchange ideas and initiatives.

In considering a theme for the workshop FMSC noted that there was significant interest in the issues surrounding small-scale fisheries (SSFs) and that many if not most issues with SSFs were common across all the jurisdictions.  Furthermore, FMSC had been tasked by AFMF to consider matters around SSFs and provide advice back to AFMF on the development of cost effective and efficient management of SSFs.  Thus a workshop provided an ideal opportunity to explore the issue of SSFs and to look at issues and approaches in the various jurisdictions to see if there were any learnings that could be incorporated into FMSC’s advice to AFMF.

A national fisheries management workshop was held at the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre in Adelaide on 26/27 March 2014, which brought together fisheries managers from all Australian jurisdictions.  The idea of holding a workshop was promoted by the Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) (composed of the Heads of Commonwealth and State/Territory fishery management agencies), which had identified that there was no forum for fisheries managers to exchange ideas and build networks.  The task of putting the workshop together was undertaken by AFMF’s Fisheries Management Sub-Committee (FMSC), with funding support being provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).

The workshop was the first fisheries managers’ workshop since 1995, when the last of a successful series of fisheries managers’ workshops run during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s was held on Rottnest Island, WA.  In promoting the idea of a workshop AFMF noted that while there was significant cross-fertilisation between researchers through the Australian Society for Fish Biology and other forums and through National Compliance Committee for compliance officers, there was no forum specifically for fisheries managers.  As fisheries management had increased in complexity, and society was placing additional scrutiny on fisheries managers, there was a need for fisheries managers to meet as a group of professionals to exchange ideas and initiatives.

In considering a theme for the workshop FMSC noted that there was significant interest in the issues surrounding small-scale fisheries (SSFs) and that many if not most issues with SSFs were common across all the jurisdictions.  Furthermore, FMSC had been tasked by AFMF to consider matters around SSFs and provide advice back to AFMF on the development of cost effective and efficient management of SSFs.  Thus a workshop provided an ideal opportunity to explore the issue of SSFs and to look at issues and approaches in the various jurisdictions to see if there were any learnings that could be incorporated into FMSC’s advice to AFMF.

A national fisheries management workshop was held at the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre in Adelaide on 26/27 March 2014, which brought together fisheries managers from all Australian jurisdictions.  The idea of holding a workshop was promoted by the Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) (composed of the Heads of Commonwealth and State/Territory fishery management agencies), which had identified that there was no forum for fisheries managers to exchange ideas and build networks.  The task of putting the workshop together was undertaken by AFMF’s Fisheries Management Sub-Committee (FMSC), with funding support being provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).

The workshop was the first fisheries managers’ workshop since 1995, when the last of a successful series of fisheries managers’ workshops run during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s was held on Rottnest Island, WA.  In promoting the idea of a workshop AFMF noted that while there was significant cross-fertilisation between researchers through the Australian Society for Fish Biology and other forums and through National Compliance Committee for compliance officers, there was no forum specifically for fisheries managers.  As fisheries management had increased in complexity, and society was placing additional scrutiny on fisheries managers, there was a need for fisheries managers to meet as a group of professionals to exchange ideas and initiatives.

In considering a theme for the workshop FMSC noted that there was significant interest in the issues surrounding small-scale fisheries (SSFs) and that many if not most issues with SSFs were common across all the jurisdictions.  Furthermore, FMSC had been tasked by AFMF to consider matters around SSFs and provide advice back to AFMF on the development of cost effective and efficient management of SSFs.  Thus a workshop provided an ideal opportunity to explore the issue of SSFs and to look at issues and approaches in the various jurisdictions to see if there were any learnings that could be incorporated into FMSC’s advice to AFMF.