UK-based cheese and yoghurt producer Delamere Dairy has entered the Australian market by signing a distribution deal for its goat butter.

The company’s goat butter is now available for sale in Australian supermarket chain IGA.

The goat butter is also stocked on the shelves of three regional chains and independent retailers in the country, following the company’s initial shipment at the end of last year.

Delamere Dairy expects to see the value of its Australian sales reach six figures by the end of this year.

Delamere Dairy export director Jonathan Cope said: “This new exporting opportunity has extended our international reach, and we’re expecting Australian sales to become a significant revenue stream for the business.

“Even though Australia has its own goat’s milk industry, we carried out analysis of the product range in major retailers via shopping websites, and it became quickly apparent there was a gap in the market for us. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the health benefits associated with our products, demonstrated in the overseas demand we are seeing.

“To make it work we had to find the right distributor, which can sometimes take us up to 18 months and cost a significant amount of time and money. Thanks to supporting from our ITA, we were able to quickly find and secure an Australian partner, and we’re now stocked in stores across the country.”

In order to drive further export growth, Delamere Dairy is currently in negotiations with potential partners in India. At present, the company sells its products in more than 25 markets worldwide.