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L-r at Tesco Malaysia's Australia Food Fair promotion: Dato’Azlan, corporate affairs director of Tesco Malaysia; Naila Mazzucco, Australian trade commissioner, Malaysia; and Simon Ng, fresh commercial director of Tesco Malaysia

Tesco Malaysia recently completed a two-week campaign across many of its 52 stores promoting Australian produce after expanding its range to include more Aussie fruits and vegetables.

The retailer's Australian Food Fair promotion, which involved support from Australia'sDepartment of Agriculture and Food, Horticulture WA, AUSVEG and Austrade, came after a Tesco Malaysia delegation visited Western Australia in April this year to investigate further fresh food supply opportunities for their hypermarket outlets.

Naila Mazzucco, Australian Trade Commissioner Malaysia, said 40 types of new and fresh food items including pears, carrots, cauliflowers, brussel sprouts, broccoli and sweetcorn were showcased at Tesco Malaysia's Australian event.

Simon Ng, Tesco Malaysiacommercial director, said Tesco was excited to be able to offer this new fresh range of Australian products.

“The fresh ranges we offer are high quality fresh food products from Australia which are appealing to Malaysian consumers,” Ng said.

“Our customers are always looking for great quality and nutritious fresh products at great prices. With this expanded range of Australian imported fresh products, I believe customers will look forward to enjoy cooking at home.”

Western Australian sweetcorn, sourced from Trandos Farms, was part of the promotion.

Managing director Jim Trandos said it was the family-run company’s first trial consignment of sweetcorn to Malaysia.

“It was an extremely well run campaign including sophisticated point of sale stands in the Tesco stores,” Trandos said.

“The feedback we have had to date has been positive. Western Australian sweetcorn tastes different to that grown in Malaysia. We use different varieties and it’s sweeter.”

He said Western Australian produce was generally regarded as premium food by Malaysian consumers.

“Our product is marketed under the Western Australian Corn Growers label. Our packaging has the kangaroo and the sun on it, which is recognisable by customers.”