Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, an Adelaide company pedals into India and a former Penfolds winemaker launches his own label. Plus the latest business events.
- Former Penfolds winemaker launches own label
- Adelaide e-bike company pens India distribution deal
- Shop trading hours extended during festival season
- Savers expands SA portfolio with new Marleston store
- Health, cost-of-living priorities for SA
- Agricultural markets face dry conditions and global uncertainty
- Govt backs SA geothermal startup
Former Penfolds winemaker launches own label
Acclaimed winemaker Jason Barrette has launched Camino Wine Co. with seven wines in the collection spanning a 2021 Paradigm Vineyard Marananga Shiraz to a 2024 Grüner Veltliner.
Barrette, a former Australian Army soldier, came to winemaking after travelling vineyards in France and Italy.
“Camino is a celebration of every vineyard I’ve worked in, every lesson I’ve learned, and every story I’ve had the privilege to tell,” Barette said.
“Every wine tells a story, and with Camino, I wanted to create something truly special – wines that reflect my global journey, the dedication behind every detail, and the incredible fruit we have here in South Australia.”
Adelaide e-bike company pens India distribution deal
TAV Systems has signed a distribution agreement with GoFree Cycles under which the e-bike company will sell its bikes to Indian retail customers.
Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs, who was present at the signing of the deal while on a trade mission to India, said the partnership “further solidifies South Australia’s reputation as a leader in green technology and innovation”.
“The company’s expansion in this exciting, growing market opens significant opportunities for South Australia, allowing us to harness local expertise and green technology capabilities to meet India’s booming two-wheeler delivery market,” Szakacs said.
Terramin lodges appeal over Bird in Hand mine decision
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Terramin has officially lodged an appeal against a late-January decision of the Supreme Court of South Australia, which dismissed the miner’s application for a review of the state government’s decision to refuse a mining lease application near the Bird in Hand winery in the Adelaide Hills.
In a letter to shareholders, Terramin said its appeal emphasised “that the Minister’s actions were contrary to the positive recommendation of his own Department for Energy and Mining”.
“The department’s comprehensive technical assessment concluded that the BIHGP (Bird In Hand Gold Project) could be developed with no adverse environmental or socio-economic impacts, a conclusion based on extensive, independent, peer-reviewed studies over several years.
The company said the BIHGP remained a “key focus for the company” and that it was working to ensure “the project is well-prepared for future progress”.
“The company will pursue all available legal avenues to secure the project’s future and will provide updates on the appeal process and operational progress in due course,” Terramin said.
Shop trading hours extended during festival season
Retailers in the CBD will be allowed to be open until 6 pm every Saturday from 15 February to 22 March, ensuring stores can take advantage of the increased tourism activity in the city.
AEDA said extended shopping hours during last year’s festival season increased visitation to Rundle Mall by 22 per cent while spending rose 18 per cent.
“This is an opportunity for city retailers to increase their sales by capitalising on the many millions of extra people who will come through the city in February and March,” Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith said.
Savers expands SA portfolio with new Marleston store
The fourth SA location of the thrift superstore chain has a floor space of 2580-square-metres and is located at the new Richmond Lifestyle Centre.
It will open this Thursday, February 20 and is set to be one of the largest in the country, offering over 100,000 pre-loved items of clothing, accessories, home goods and more.
Savers Australian Managing Director Michael Fisher said the store is “a result of years of effort”.
“We’re excited to expand our Thrift Proud movement in such a vibrant, developing area,” Fisher said.
Health, cost-of-living priorities for SA
Health and cost-of-living pressures are top of mind for South Australians in the lead-up to the upcoming state and federal elections.
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A survey of 508 RAA members revealed issues related to health and cost of living were consistent themes.
RAA chief executive officer Nick Reade said it was not surprising people were hurting at the hip pocket with interest rates at a 12-year high and the cost of energy, groceries and insurance continuing to rise.
Other issues impacting South Australians included improving road safety, building key infrastructure to support housing developments and fairer motoring taxes and charges.
Source: Survey of 508 RAA members, November 2024
2025 South Australian Tourism Summit, aims to instil business confidence, inspire collaboration and a shared focus on key priorities and will discuss development, investment and emerging opportunities in South Australian tourism on 20 February.
Property Council SA: SA Outlook Breakfast, featuring a panel of industry leaders, across a variety of asset classes to provide valuable insights into the current market, key challenges and upcoming opportunities in South Australia on 21 February at SkyCity Adelaide.
International Women’s Day Breakfast, a Committee for Adelaide Event with Anna Meares, Grant Stevens, R M Williams COO Tara Moses, and Future Women founder Helen McCabe, at SkyCity on February 27.
International Women’s Day 2025 Luncheon: The South Australian Business Chamber and the Australia Day Council of South Australia are joining forces on 27 February to bring you an International Women’s Day luncheon with this year’s theme, “March Forward”.
AmCham – Targeting Talent for Tomorrow: Join AmCham to hear the latest on what needs to change to enable us to meet the aspirations of the critical industries to support our state and our nation on February 27.
_SOUTHSTART, the South Australian festival of start-ups, innovation and future thinking, held across multiple venues, will feature speakers such as Phil Morle, partner at Main Sequence Ventures, and Allys Todd, co-Founder and CEO at ValAi from 4-6 March.
A New Era for Australian Digital Payments: AmCham will host a business breakfast on March 20, 2025, which will explore the future of B2B payments.
Space – A Game-Changer for Mining, Medicine and Mankind: Join AmCham for a luncheon about how space exploration has the potential to benefit humankind on 3 April.
2025 AEDA Business Summit, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas will attend the summit and will be joined by a stellar lineup of business leaders and industry experts on 20 May at the Adelaide Oval.
Agricultural markets face dry conditions and global uncertainty
The latest Monthly Commodity Insights report from Bendigo Bank flagged dry conditions in South Australia and Victoria as the cause for large drops in winter crop production.
Dry conditions in southern dairy production regions remain a concern, with pressure placed on processors to lift farmgate prices due to faltering local production.
However, almond producers are gearing up for a strong season and favourable pricing forecast.
Global factors remain a key focal point heading into February with US tariffs and the potential for retaliatory trade measures.
“Growing uncertainty in global grain markets is set to drive ongoing price volatility in the coming months,” Agribusiness senior manager of industry affairs Neil Burgess said.
Cattle prices could see an upside in February, as Burgess expects exports to rise due to “strong ongoing demand from the US and rising availability of local supply”.
Govt backs SA geothermal startup
A South Australian company developing technology to make installing geothermal heat pumps cheaper, safer and more efficient has been backed by a $450,000 state government ‘Seed-Start’ grant.
CoilRig will use the funds to commercialise its technology; a coiled tubing drilling rig that offers drilling operators and consumers a cost-effective solution for installing geothermal heat pumps.
“CoilRig are proudly South Australian owned and are extremely thankful to the Government of South Australia, as well as UniSA who have been an integral part of supporting them to expand into international markets,” CoilRig director and co-founder Soren Soe said.
