South Australia’s emerging spirits sector is projected to directly employ 2300 people and inject up to $140m into the state economy by 2031, according to a major new industry blueprint released yesterday.
SA Spirit Producers Association president George Georgiadis says the blueprint, South Australia’s spirits boom, sets the foundation for a decade of sustainable growth and international success.
“With 70 per cent export growth annually over the past four years, the local spirits sector is rapidly emerging as a world leader in the production of magnificent premium spirits and fabulous spirits-based tourism and venue experiences,” Mr Georgiadis says.
“This blueprint highlights six key priorities for sustained success including nurturing collaboration and innovation, identifying quality education and training, growing export capability and developing cellar door experiences.”
Direct employment in the spirits sector is forecast to grow from 620 people in 2022 to 2,300 people by 2031, while contribution to Gross State Product is tipped to rise from $30 million in 2022 to between $94m and $140m by 2031.
“South Australia’s 50 distilleries employ people in roles as diverse as production, sales and marketing, tourism and administration – and crucially, over 60 per cent of those operations are located in regional areas, bringing in tourists and helping to stimulate local economies,” Mr Georgiadis says.
“When you factor in indirect jobs and flow-on economic benefits in the wholesale, retail and hospitality sector, the spirits industry will be making an even greater contribution to direct and indirect jobs in South Australia in the next decade.”
Many of the new-breed distillers are full-time graphic designers, IT consultants and accountants.
“They all share an entrepreneurial spirit, commercial smarts and drive to succeed, and this has led to SA punching well above its weight in international awards. Our aim is to foster that success in a collaborative way to ensure we continue to grow jobs, economic returns and critical acclaim.”
The SA Spirit Producers Association was formed in 2018, with the SA distillery trail developed in 2020 to highlight the diverse, award-winning distilleries across the state.
To see the industry blueprint, funded by a $50,000 State Government grant, visit https://saspa.org.au/south-australias-spirits-boom-industry-blueprint/.
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