Gumnut growth

Gumnut growth

Perth business the Gumnut Factory is looking to broaden its horizons after celebrating its 25th anniversary last week.

Operating from the picturesque grounds of Chapel Farm in the Swan Valley, the business makes iconic souvenirs from nuts and seed-pods, which come from the Western Australian bush.

It is estimated more than 25 million gum nuts have so far been used in the factory’s products, which are mostly sold to tourists.

However, a decline in tourist numbers in recent years has hurt business, according to managing director Anita Caesar, who took over the Gumnut Factory in 2001.

“It’s been the worst three years to be in tourism,” Ms Caesar said.

“Business has declined by 80 per cent since the September 11 terrorist attacks.”

But instead of waiting for the market to return, which Ms Caesar says is slowly happening, she instead is looking to take her product to the market.

An export market was established in Switzerland more then six years ago, where a local buyer purchases Gumnut Factory products and sells them at the markets in the city of Basel.

But next year Ms Ceasar is planning to gain a foothold in England through a large trade fair in Birmingham.

She said she was hoping to begin exporting to the UK, which was a great location to try and expand further into Europe.

Ms Ceasar said the European market, particularly the UK market, liked the Gumnut Factory’s products.