Bunbury-based meat processor V&V Walsh has become the only international supplier approved to supply chilled sheep and goat meat to China.
The Amelia Park chilled lamb range launched in Shanghai on Tuesday and will be launched in Beijing on Friday.
The product will be available through high-end retail stores and served in leading restaurants and hotels.
The company is also approved to supply chilled beef as well as frozen beef, sheep and goat meat, providing WA with a significant first mover advantage into premium segments of the enormous and growing red meat market in China.
Agriculture and Food minister Alannah MacTiernan congratulated owners Peter and Greg Walsh on their significant achievement.
“Chinese consumers can now enjoy the first ever imported chilled lamb from Western Australian at its very best,” he said.
“While China is WA’s largest market for sheep meat, our exports largely comprise lower value frozen cuts.
“Now Chinese consumers can access a range of branded, premium-grade value-added lamb products.”
Ms MacTiernan said the opening up of new high-value premium lamb markets should provide further confidence to the WA sheep industry and to investors about the future of the industry, as it looks for growth.
“Exporting this value-added Western Australian product means more jobs in regional WA and more benefits for our economy,” she said.
“V&V Walsh have led the way for WA industry and the WA government is proud to have been involved.”
V&V Walsh has received support through the state government’s WA Open for Business program, the Department of Agriculture and Food and Meat and Livestock Australia.