After launching several new products earlier this year, supplement and health food company Amazonia is poised for rapid growth. Pippa Haupt writes.
Recognised throughout Australia for its acai berry products, Amazonia is going global off the back of launching its new research and development centre.
Named the ‘Innovation Hub’, the 1450 square metre site is set to become Amazonia’s worldwide headquarters, where it plans to expand its range and global footprint.
Founder Dwayne Martens says the hub was a dream come true.
“It's a beautiful little innovation place; we have an R&D lab where we can innovate quickly and provide both Amazonia and contract manufacturers with the latest health trends.
“We’re very, very versed in that space. I live and breathe it,” says Martens.
Martens says the focus is on providing more innovation to people that are looking more for organic, natural, health foods and supplements.
“We are very agile and nimble in our development, but the hub will allow us to develop specifically to our export partners needs.
“We are also manufacturing now, which ultimately gets moremargin in the bottom line and allows us to be much more price competitive internationally,” he says.
Founded by Martens in 2008, Amazonia exports to several countries including South Korea, where it is the leading supplier of plant-based supplements.
The company is also the largest supplier of frozen acai berry in the United Arab Emirates, Europe, and Australia, and currently has an established export relationship with government agency Austrade.
“We are very much aligned with Austrade, having worked with them to find export opportunities.
“We also have partners that are already established in the UAE, southern Europe, South Korea and New Zealand,” says Martens.
Amazonia is looking to grow its market in New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and more comprehensively expand into the Asian market next year.
Other goals include doubling business in already established markets and even tripling its UAE business.
Martens says, “We are currently in the planning phase, but we are developing some key products for the Asian market and we hope to see several of our products launched in the country mid-next year.
“The big hairy audacious goal is to lead plant protein and whole food nutrients type supplements in a powdered version into those regions.”
