Cooee Foods Australia has recently acquired Creative Native Foods, bringing Australia’s longest-running native ingredients supplier under Indigenous ownership for the first time in 25 years.
The lowdown from AusBiz
Cooee Foods Australia, a First Nations-owned company, has officially taken control of Australia’s biggest native ingredients supplier.
The deal unites Cooee’s food services with Creative Native Food’s framework for sourcing and supplying native ingredients in a move that will help to secure Indigenous ownership in the native foods industry. The landmark acquisition was formally welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony
Getting to the crux of the matter
Creative Native Foods was founded in 2001 by acclaimed chef Andrew Fielke, with the aim of increasing a focus on native ingredients in fine dining and food tourism across Australia. The company’s range includes raw produce such as Kakadu plum, wattleseed and lemon myrtle, as well as chef-ready products such as spice blends, chutneys and native-infused salamis.
Some of the companies’ most recognisable clients include Archie Rose Distilling Co, Coco Black Chocolate, Compass Group and the Ghan and Indian Pacific trains.
Creative Native Foods has been sold to Cooee Foods Australia, which was founded by Wiradjuri woman Terri-Ann Daniel. It manufactures delicious food using native ingredients such as wattle seed and finger lime, and its products are stocked in more than 600 Ampol Foodary stores, Woolworths and IGA.
According to Terri-Ann Daniel, obtaining Creative Native Foods is a major step in celebrating Indigenous knowledge in the food industry.
“Right now, when you buy something off the shelf with Kakadu plum or wattleseed in it, less than two per cent of those products are Indigenous-owned. We’re changing that,” she says.
“Without businesses like Creative Native Foods, there is no circular economy of growing, harvesting and transforming these incredible foods.”
This acquisition will mean major scaling opportunities for both businesses, strengthening investments in Indigenous growers and suppliers all across the native food supply chain.
“The growth opportunity is enormous,” Terri-Ann says. “Our first move is to bring on additional full-time roles, including a National Sales Manager for food service. Ideally, that will be an Indigenous person with a deep passion for cooking with native ingredients.”
As well as commercial growth, the acquisition is motivated by a desire to protect Australian native food from outsourcing to international markets.
Andrew Fielke, founder of Creative Native Foods, explains that many native ingredients are now being grown around the world and shipped back to Australia.
“Macadamia became a Hawaiian industry. Lemon myrtle is now grown overseas. Finger lime is cultivated globally, with some even claiming it’s native elsewhere,” he says. “We need to take ownership of what belongs on Australian plates.”
The team also wants to develop a cooperative model where Indigenous growers are supported to scale sustainably and economic benefits flow back to First Nations communities.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to see Creative Native Foods transition to Indigenous ownership,” Andrew says.
“This is the right next chapter for the business and for native foods more broadly, from farm to fine dining.”
But beyond the economic and community benefits, both Andrew and Terri-Ann hope to encourage more Aussies to incorporate native foods into their diets. They want to educate the community about the rich nutrients available in native ingredients.
“These foods are among the best in the world,” Terri-Ann emphasises. “For example, bush tomato has nearly eight grams of protein per 100 grams, and it’s a fruit. It’s naturally grown, nutrient-dense, and chefs are calling for it every day.”
When asked about next steps, Terri-Ann shared her plans for long-term career pathways and respectful growth.
“We’re not just preserving what Andrew built. We’re taking it to the next level, while staying true to the mission of making native foods part of everyday Australian life.”
To read about new opportunities at the National Indigenous Space Academy, click here.