As a young girl living on country, Kylie-Lee Bradford had a dream. ‘Growing up in Kakadu, we lived and breathed native ingredients,’ she says. ‘I wanted to start a business offering products made from wild harvested native foods.’
In 2014, the proud Murrumburr woman from Kakadu National Park made her dream come true. Native fruits and herbs feature in all of Kakadu Organics’ products. These include macadamia oil infused with lemon myrtle and wild lime, organic bush teas, dukkah, jams, chutneys, herbs and spices. Its skincare and wellness range uses Kakadu plum, known for its high vitamin C content.
Kakadu Organics’ products can be found across Australia. In 2023, the company started exporting to Singapore. Bradford is now exploring new export opportunities in Malaysia and the UK.
Austrade resources open the export door
Kakadu Organics started thinking about exporting when it felt it had ‘nailed’ the Australian market, says Bradford. The company was particularly interested in Singapore and the UK.
‘The first step we took towards exporting was to contact Austrade,’ says Bradford. ‘We wanted to understand the markets we were entering.’
Austrade’s trade services comprise ‘advice, connections and support,’ says Kendall Draper, Austrade’s Trade Commissioner in Osaka. ‘For example, we could help you with your export strategies, make valuable connections, and provide hands-on practical support.’
‘No-one’s export journey is the same, and it takes time,’ says Draper. ‘If you’re an Australian business that’s curious about export, what a wonderful journey you’re about to embark on.’
Businesses interested in exporting can start by using Austrade’s Go Global Toolkit.
‘This free online resource is not only for new exporters, but also for businesses looking to expand into multiple markets,’ says Draper. ‘It’s a great resource to help you understand your export-readiness and the markets where your products may succeed.’
The Go Global Toolkit helped Bradford to measure her readiness to export, explore markets and design an export plan for her products.
Landing Pads leads to success in Singapore
Austrade’s trade missions have also helped Kakadu Organics. In 2023, the company was one of nine companies that took part in a Landing Pads program in Singapore for First Nations businesses, developed with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The businesses took part in activities designed around the essential tools and insights needed for exporting success. These included workshops on branding and pitching your product and market entry. They also attended masterclasses addressing branding and sector-specific challenges tailored to the unique needs of each business.
‘Our first export deal with Ryan’s Grocery was because of our trip to Singapore with Austrade,’ says Bradford.
After meeting with representatives from Ryan’s Grocery as part of the trade mission, Kakadu Organics secured the deal. The Singapore retailer now stocks Kakadu Organics’ native jams, chutneys oils and dukkas online and in store.
Kakadu Organics is now working with Austrade to explore opportunities in Malaysia. The company has sent samples to a potential customer.
Watch our video about Kakadu Organics’ success.
Kakadu Organics’ founder Kylie-Lee Bradford has built a business based on her love for native foods.
The economic and social impact of First Nations businesses
Bradford is proud of Kakadu Organics’ local and international success – and she wants other First Nations women to achieve the same success.
Kakadu Organics offers a leadership program for First Nations female entrepreneurs and artists from rural and remote communities across Australia.
‘We are not just promoting native foods and wellness,’ says Bradford. ‘We are also nurturing cultural richness and empowering women to thrive. Our give-back program inspires First Nations women with opportunities to overcome hardship and engage deeply in culture, arts and business.
‘First Nations businesses make a significant contribution not only to local communities back on country but also the broader Australian community,’ says Draper.
This is backed up by an economic report on First Nations exporters by Austrade, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Supply Nation.
The First Nations Businesses Succeeding Internationally report draws on data from Supply Nations’ business registry and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The report found:
- First Nations exporting and importing businesses are typically larger when compared with all First Nations businesses studied, employing more staff and generating higher turnover.
- First Nations goods exporters typically generated almost 9 times more in turnover and employed over 7 times more full-time equivalent workers than all First Nations businesses studied.
- First Nations goods exporters studied generated over $670 million in turnover in 2022–23 with significant opportunities for the sector to benefit more from exporting.
Read the First Nations Businesses Succeeding Internationally report.
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