Australia has an estimated 1.7 million Diabetics, a figure which will only grow in years to come. That statistic in itself should equate to a massive market for sugar free products, but Diabetics are not the only demographic who are struggling to find sugar free alternatives. Throw in the many Australians with intolerances or allergies to sugar and those with oral healthcare concerns, and one would think sugar free options would be plentiful in the "Lucky Country". Surely the major supermarket chains would be falling over themselves to cater to this huge market. Apparently not.
Walk through any supermarket in the USA and you'll find aisles and aisles of sugar free alternatives. In Germany, specialist bakeries are full of sugar free cakes and pastries. In Belgium and Switzerland, where the world's finest chocolate is made, sugar free is considered as commonplace as milk or dark. So the question has to be asked, "Why don't Australian consumers have access to the same range of sugar free products found elsewhere in the world?" If anyone from Coles or Woolworths/Safeway has a good answer, please drop me a line.
Maybe we just don't know what we're missing out on. After all, if none of us had ever tasted chocolate ice cream, I guess we'd all be happy with vanilla! It's only when a Diabetic takes a trip overseas that his/her eyes are opened to the incredible range available. Alternatively, when an American or European Diabetic traveller hits our shores, they will naturally ask, "So where's the Diabetic stuff?".
Australian manufacturers (granted they're an endangered species) CAN actually make sugar free products. There are SOME sugar free products already made here, but they are few and far between. Alternatively, we CAN import sugar free products from overseas. We don't seem to have a problem importing products that compete with Australian produced goods, like meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. So if we CAN make and import sugar free products, why don't we?
A bizarre catch 22 exists in the Australian sugar free market, where there is DEMAND, but no supply, simply because retailers do not recognise the demand. As a result, manufactuers will not risk making sugar free products without retail support, and importers will not risk importing sugar free products for the same reason. So the missing link is the retail sector.
In recognition of the massive gap in the market, I opened Australia's first dedicated sugar free confectionery and treat store, Sugar Free Zone. Find out more here: www.sugarfreezone.com.au
