News from the Pantry
Fine Foods Melbourne 2008 – Tucker’s Natural a real show stopper!
Tucker’s Natural has returned from last week’s Australia Fine Food Festival 2008 in high spirits. The inaugural Tucker’s food stand and the full Tucker’s Natural product range received incredible feedback with industry peers and customers alike congratulating and complimenting the unique range, with many returning several times to the stand over the entire 4 day event. Visitors to the Tucker’s Natural stand spoke of their high brand recognition and happily passed on positive comments to the Tucker’s team about the newly launched dessert range saying they were ecstatic about the flavours and quality of the range.
The comments also flowed from industry professions, with chefs in particular visiting the stand to express their fondness for the convenience and concept of the dessert range especially when teamed with their dishes. As a result there has been overwhelming interest resulting from the Fine Food Festival stand, with orders for Tucker’s Natural pouring in for both savory and dessert crackers from retail outlets and food service markets as well as strong interest from overseas distributors growing with several new markets being developed. One such company from Thailand ordered the Dessert range the moment they saw the Tucker’s stand and only 5 minutes after the show opening.
An incredible result for the year old Tucker’s Natural and hints at a bright future for this Australian brand.
Cracking the market
Moving the cracker market into another dimension, is this year's Highly Commended entrant in the Baked Goods Category -Tucker's Natural Gourmet Crackers. With a list of natural ingredients, wrapped up in eye-catching packaging, with multiple holes for visual effect, the product manages to maintain its hand-made appearance and appeal.
"We're very proud of our win," said managing director, Sam Tucker. "It's quite nice to be from a small business and be in the same competition as some of the large companies. It's great to know that you're competing at that level and being recognised for your achievements.
"No one will ever know just how much hard work went into this product. Ultimately, sales results are the biggest reward for the work, but to then have it further recognised by your peers in an industry night is wonderful."
Created in response to the growth in global market demand for authentic, premium crackers and biscuits, Tucker's has focussed on staying true to the brand while responding to the latest flavour trends. The process, a development on the company's handmade heritage, is able to produce a premium quality, gourmet product, in commercial quantities. The unique production delivers the all-important inconsistencies in the product, giving it a completely handmade appearance.
Tucker's packaging is also a key selling point - communicating brand philosophy, and visually engaging consumers.
The crackers' distinctive shape makes them ideal for serving with dips, cheeses, hors'douvres, salads, with main meals, soups, desserts, hot and cold drinks and to decorate platters. Being more robust than others on the market, they do not break easily and carry toppings as well as dip well, making them extremely practical. And, according to Tucker's, you can even double dip without causing cross contamination - now that's innovation you can really sink your teeth into!
'Rags to biscuits' article
For a pair of thirty-somethings managing a clutch of businesses and an increasingly full nest at home, there is not a lot of time for stress management. But Cindy and Sam Tucker find getting behind the wheel of their BMWs is therapy in itself.
"Every time I jump in my car all the stresses of work and children go away - I feel like a million dollars and I'm sure all BMW drivers feel that way," says Cindy who, at 31 years old and pregnant with her second child, is the managing director of national fashion label Indy C, turning over $1.5 million anually.
Cindy and her sister-in-law, designer Lucy Tucker, started their Adelaide-based high fashion accessory label Indy C just two years ago, designing and producing a range of shoes, jewellery, belts, wallets, handbags and more that are now distributed nationally to over 400 stores.
After working for Calvin Klein in the UK, and then managing sales and development for the Austin Group in Melbourne, Cindy returned home to Adelaide in 2005 and met her husband, Sam Tucker. Sam owns and manages a food distribution business called Food Service Solutions, and a biscuit manufacturing business that has recently launched Tuckers Natural Gourmet Crackers and Tuckers Natural Gourmet Dessert Crackers in the national and international retail markets.
"My expertise is the general management of the businesses that focus on the retail chain in Australia and abroad," explains Sam, who now drives Cindy's high performance top-of-the-range BMW 335L
"The major focus for me is growing the Tuckers Natural brand globally and bringing
in complimentary gourmet products for Food Service Solutions to distribute. I also build these business in Australia and internationally so that they are significant players in the food industry in the next five years."
Of his car; "The practicality of having a two-door convertible was no longer viable," says Sam, who gladly gave up his Nissan 350Z when their first child Zachary was born late last year.
"Having owned a sports car I still wanted something that had a bit of zip but also had that sports car pedigree plus all the refinements that BMW offers. The 335i is an absolute joy to drive and looks great while still being practical for the family."
With Zachary on the way, Cindy also gladly moved on, this time to a new BMW X5.
"The X5 is a 'yummy mummy car'. It's so luxurious with absolutely everything you could possibly want in a car - even my son can see where he's going," explains Cindy.
"A year ago I said to my husband: 'I feel like I've achieved everything that I've set out in life to achieve by the age of 30. I have the car of my dreams, a successful business, we've just finished building the house of our dreams and I'm pregnant with my first child.'"
"I am full of admiration for Cindy's achievements in being able to continue to run her business while raising our child," adds Sam.
"We are incredibly busy and understand we are going to have to work very hard with children now in the mix, but we are hoping that in the next five years we can deliver permanent value in our businesses for the rest of our lives."
Tuckers Natural on Channel 9's ACA
We featured on channel nine's ACA program focusing on the success of Tuckers Natural.
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"We invite you to try our handmade gourmet crackers and taste the difference in flavour, texture, and quality against machine made varieties. We are confident that you will continue to enjoy and support our products." 