IN MARKET GROWING DEMAND Toni Barton is the woman coined the name Lamb Rashers™.” “When you target new markets you behind The Original Lamb Initially targeting high-end retail andhave to meet new criteria, such as not Bacon Co. She’s a Victorian foodservice in Dubai, Toni hopes to being processed in the same facility sheep producer who began have commercial quantities available as pork, which means we need to find experimenting with wood smoking for air freight export by the end of a smokehouse facility solely for lamb,” lamb flaps (breast or belly) in a the year. Toni said. shared Melbourne smokehouse to “Then you need to establish trusted sell at farmers’ markets. This takes Lambcuterie™ relationships with exporters and a low value cut and transforms it Building on the success of LamBacon™ supply chain routes for accessing into a product which can retail for in the domestic market (currently these markets.” up to $97/kg. available through farmers’ markets and selected deli and food stores), On the Fast-Track From a small farm gate business, The Toni has used the project to road Not only has participation in Producer Original Lamb Bacon Co is ready for test lamb ham from the leg or Innovation Fast-Track made Toni world dominance after participating shoulder, lamb prosciutto from the aware of the opportunities for her in MLA Donor Company’s Producer leg and lamb lonza (a smoked meat business, it’s also opened her eyes Innovation Fast-Track program. traditionally made from pork loin). to shortfalls. The program facilitated Toni to test theNew product prototypes were taken “Because of how it has grown, I really suitability of smoked lamb products for to the Foodservice Australia Expo didn’t have good documentation the Middle Eastern Halal market and in May and Toni identified the initial and a solid business plan. When to develop new products for existing target market would be high-end I sat down to document how the markets in a Lambcuterie™ range. delis, wine bars and restaurants with products are made I couldn’t believe Going global some export potential. how much I had learnt in such a short Toni travelled to the Middle East “Feedback from the chef community in time,” Toni said. in February to attend Gulfood in Australia has indicated this product is“The program has certainly made Dubai – one of the largest food trade very unique, delicate and has a per- me do things in a much shorter time shows in the world – in a Victorian fect balance on the palate,” Toni said.period than I previously would’ve. Government delegation. It’s also made me realise just what “While it’s a bit like (pork) ham, it has a “Currently, Halal consumers can distinct lamb flavour profile.” is involved in setting up good access turkey or beef bacon and procedures and ensuring I have the even non-Halal consumers in the Market testing also showed some correct licensing and approvals for Middle East, like tourists, aren’t product could suit retail sales as export in place. offered pork bacon due to cross- pre-sliced and packaged product contamination risks,” she said. for at-home consumption. “It’s also shown me that I am capable and that being a food entrepreneur is “Taste testing confirmed a smoked The Original Lamb Bacon Co is now a great thing.” ■ product made from lamb was judged working on feasibility of all products to be superior by consumers and to and markets to develop investment lambbacon.com avoid consumer confusion, we’ve opportunities and scalability. SNAPSHOT:Toni Barton, Nulla Vale, VictoriaS Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 60ha Self-replacing 250 breeding Sub-clover and Red loam 800mm Australian White ewes native pastures flock and Hindley Park Australian White sheep stud 47