Agribusiness, Food and Beverages - Marquis Macadamias

Finalists

Find out about the Australian Export Award finalists across all national award categories. Be inspired by their success.

Marquis Macadamias

Bundaberg (Meeanjin), Queensland.

Australian Export Awards a powerful motivator

Winning the 2025 Agribusiness, Food and Beverages award is a fantastic recognition of excellence for our farmer shareholders, staff and customers — and a powerful motivator to continue expanding globally.

Ben Adams, Chief Executive Officer.

A noble native nut goes global with Marquis Macadamias

Macadamias are a true national success story. They are one of the few native Australian foods to be successfully exported globally.

Leading the charge is Marquis Macadamias, winner of the 2025 Agribusiness, Food and Beverages award category at the Australian Export Awards. Operating since 1983, the grower-owned co-op is one of the world’s leading integrated macadamia growers, processors and marketers.

‘With over 40 years of experience, we combine deep industry expertise with end-to-end control of the value chain,’ says Ben Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Marquis Macadamias.

‘We want to create a viable and sustainable Australian macadamia industry that delivers premium prices for our growers and premium products for our customers.’

Growth built on global partnerships

Marquis Macadamias runs 2 advanced processing facilities in Bundaberg and Lismore. Combined, the facilities process around 28,000 tonnes of nut-in-shell every year. That’s about 40% of the Aussie macadamia industry.

Over the past 3 seasons, the co-op has maintained a strong export focus. International sales account for around 74% of revenue.

‘Our growth is built on strong global partnerships, a reputation for quality and a commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability,’ says Adams.

Success through sustainability

As a grower-owned co-op, Marquis Macadamias’ goals are aligned with the success and sustainability of its farmers.

‘With fully integrated operations, we offer end-to-end traceability and quality assurance, underpinned by our British Retail Consortium (BRC)-certified facilities,’ says Adams.

‘We are also increasing investment in sustainable practices, like repurposing macadamia shells as biofuel to reduce waste and support renewable energy initiatives.’

Cracking the Indian market

India is the next global market to crack.

Marquis Macadamias achieved its first shipment of macadamias to the country in 2023. This was supported by the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which reduced tariffs on macadamias from 30% to 17.1%. Tariffs on these nuts are expected to be eliminated by 2028.

‘India has a large and diverse population with a strong cultural history of nut consumption and growing interest in premium health foods,’ says Adams. ‘Market potential is projected at 1,000 tonnes within 5 years.’

We wanted to benchmark ourselves against the best exporters in Queensland and celebrate our team’s achievements on a national stage.

Australian Export Awards a powerful motivator

This is the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages award winner’s first foray into the Australian Export Awards.

‘We wanted to benchmark ourselves against the best exporters in Queensland and celebrate our team’s achievements on a national stage,’ says Adams.

‘It’s a fantastic recognition of excellence for our farmer shareholders, staff and customers — and a powerful motivator to continue expanding globally.’

Good planning is key to success

As a global success story, Adams has one word for emerging exporters: ‘Plan, plan and plan again. Careful preparation and market understanding are the foundations of long-term export success.’

Marquis Macadamias is currently developing a robust, proprietary planning tool that will enhance its ability to balance supply and demand, track inventory, and forecast sales.

‘The goal is to eliminate errors in supply-demand balancing, improve financial forecasts, and streamline production planning, sales strategies, and inventory management,’ Adams explains.

Value-driven growth for growers

Over the next 5 years, Marquis Macadamias is focused on sustainable, value-driven export growth underpinned by strategic planning, infrastructure investment, and tailor-made marketing activities.

A key driver of this growth is the planned multimillion-dollar expansion of its Bundaberg factory. This is expected to nearly double its intake and processing capacity by 2035.

‘The additional production volume will support our entry into new international markets while strengthening our position in existing ones,’ says Adams.

‘Our business model will continue to prioritise grower value, product quality and vertical integration.’

Visit Marquis Macadamias website.

(Host) Our very first category is Agri-business, food and beverages. This award is for outstanding international success in the field of manufactured foods, beverages or agricultural products and includes primary production, forestry and fisheries and related services or technology.

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Four Pillars Gin

Four Pillars Gin is a leading craft gin proudly distilled in Victoria.

Marquis Macadamias

Marquis Macadamias is an integrated macadamia grower, processor and marketer. They deliver premium kernel, nut-in-shell, oil and paste globally.

SunRice Group

The SunRice Group is a global food business and one of Australia’s leading food export brands.

Tasman Sea Salt

Tasman Sea Salt harvests 100% natural, unrefined sea salt flakes from the crystal clear seawater of Tasmania.

The Yoghurt Shop

The Yoghurt Shop handcrafts Australia’s thickest yoghurt, double strained and batch made using South Australian milk.

(Geoff Baker – Commonwealth Bank of Australia) It’s an honour to present the Agri-business, food and beverage award on behalf on CommBank and we are proud to partner with Austrade on the Australian Export Awards for the 36^th year. These sectors make and incredible contribution to Australia’s export strength, driven by innovation, resilience and a deep connection to customers, community and country.

At CommBank, we’re proud to support agri-businesses, food producers and manufacturers across Australia, supporting their ambitions to grow, adapt and succeed in global trade.

Congratulations to tonight’s finalists who are not just exporting products, but sharing the best of Australia with the world.

And the winner of the Agri-business, Food and Beverages Award is Marquis Macadamias.

(Representative – Marquis Macadamias) Minister, honourable guests, organising committee, judges and other finalists. As a grower-owned company, I’m honoured to represent Marquis Macadamias as the winner of this category for 2025. I’d like to thank our innovative and hardworking famers who grow the finest quality macadamias in the world year in, year out.

No matter what mother nature throws at them, they strive for absolute perfection in everything they do, allowing us to take their exceptional products to the world. I’d also like to thank our dedicated staff who work tirelessly to process, pack and sell our products right across the globe. Our team are experts in their field.

Marquis Macadamias is proud to be an international leader owned by growers, working for growers, taking on the very few truly native Australian premium products to the world. Thank you very much.

(Host) Ah congratulations Marquis Macadamias. Now who have you chosen to join you on stage?

(Representative – Marquis Macadamias) Um, we’ve got some of our directors, farmers and staff here tonight.

(Host) Excellent. Now you’re about to crack open another market. Is that right? Can you tell us, what does the future hold for Marquis Macadamias?

(Representative – Marquis Macadamias) Ah I think you’re referring to India. So India is a wonderful opportunity for macadamias. Um, it’s a wonderful nut culture. We haven’t actually had the product to service that market but uh, the macadamia industry is growing exponentially over the next five to ten years so we expect to have the product to be able to service a brand new market in India which is going to be really exciting.

(Host) Ah congratulations, very well deserved. Wonderful win there for Marquis Macadamias. Well done.

Agribusiness, Food and Beverages winner – Marquis Macadamias. For the full transcript please visit the Agribusiness, Food and Beverage Award 2025 - Marquis Macadamias video on YouTube.

Agribusiness, Food and Beverages finalists

National category winners

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For outstanding international success in any creative industry.

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For outstanding international success selling goods or services to customers overseas via e-Commerce, including cross-border e-Commerce and online sales.