Frosty Boy Global
Yatala (Yuggera), Queensland.
Austrade partnerships help drive thriving exports
Austrade has been instrumental in Frosty Boy’s expansion into new markets, particularly through its Expanding Exporter program in North Africa.
Johann Botha, Chief Executive Officer.
Agribusiness Food and Beverages winner – Frosty Boy Global.
Frosty Boy serves Gold Coast goodness to a global dessert market
21 November 2024
Frosty Boy was born in 1976, starting with the simple mission to create a better-quality vanilla soft serve. This focus on quality and innovation has led its expansion into other categories. It has also seen the development of a range of café-style beverages, bakery whips and savoury sauces.
Today, the Gold Coast-based 2024 Agribusiness, Food and Beverages award category winner creates the equivalent of 1.7 million soft serves daily.
Recent investments in advanced manufacturing and robotics have positioned Frosty Boy as a formidable global food manufacturer. This was first recognised at the 2023 Australian Export Awards, where Frosty Boy was a finalist in the Manufacturing and Advanced Materials category.
So much more than soft serve
Beyond the humble soft serve, Frosty Boy has diversified into comprehensive end-to-end solutions that drive business growth. The company delivers business-critical resources for customers. These include market entry support, flavour profiling, menu and product development, promotional strategies, and culturally inclusive in-market training.
‘Recognising the appetite for your product and how it is shaped by the local environment is essential,’ says Frosty Boy’s Chief Executive Officer Johann Botha. ‘This drives revenue, profitability and long-term growth, a win-win.’
A growing export market
In the past year, Frosty Boy’s export business grew by almost 20%. Exports now account for 75% of its business. The company growth saw it supporting more than 1,000 new customer outlets internationally. There was significant expansion in Saudi Arabia, the US, the Philippines and India. Frosty Boy also established a presence in 6 new regions. These included Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, French Polynesia, Morocco and Ethiopia.
‘Expanding into these markets not only boosted our global footprint but also paves the way for expectant growth, supported by economic developments and Frosty Boy’s focus in these regions,’ says Botha.
Austrade partnerships help drive thriving exports
Strategic partnerships with Australian and international industry and trade bodies have helped Frosty Boy grow its export markets. ‘Austrade has been instrumental in Frosty Boy’s expansion into new markets, particularly through its Expanding Exporter program in North Africa,’ says Botha.
Austrade’s support has extended to participation in key trade shows, such as FHA Singapore, Gulfood Dubai and AAHAR India. ‘This has significantly strengthened our presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East,’ says Botha.
This project showcases our end-to-end capabilities, leveraging our single-serve sachet line to scale and stay competitive.
Diversifying into the retail sector
Of greatest significance over the past year has been Frosty Boy’s diversification into the retail sector. The company customised its 1kg Art of Blend cafe beverage powders into retail-ready sachets for a new US-based customer.
‘This project showcases our end-to-end capabilities, leveraging our single-serve sachet line to scale and stay competitive,’ says Botha.
Frosty Boy is currently exploring other opportunities for private-label and own-brand retail across its beverage, bakery and savoury categories.
Innovation boosts competitiveness
‘Product innovation is a cornerstone of our growth strategy,’ says Botha. ‘Our innovations ensure customers stay competitive and meet evolving consumer demands for diverse, region-specific products.’
In line with this value, Frosty Boy has recently developed a high-quality custom vegan jelly to substitute animal collagen, the typical source of gelatine. It also created a complex reduced-sugar beverage solution that perfectly mirrors a brand-standard taste and texture profile.
New products celebrate market diversity
‘Doing business with diverse cultures has taught us the importance of adaptability and a customer-focused approach,’ says Botha.
Frosty Boy recently adapted an existing whipped cream solution to create a new product that celebrates Vietnam’s emerging trend of egg foam beverage toppers in Vietnamese filter coffee. ‘This innovation allows us to cater to local tastes while expanding market reach and diversifying our product range,’ says Botha.
A sustainable focus ensures a greener future
Sustainability is at the heart of Frosty Boy’s business approach. The company is committed to sustainability and minimising bleached paper use. In the past year it has focused on switching customers to brown board cartons produced from recycled corrugated cardboard waste. This removes the need to bleach paper and reduces water consumption by 50%.
Frosty Boy also sources its Australian sugar from a sugar manufacturer certified to the global Bonsucro standard. This standard ensures the social, environmental and economic sustainability of cane sugar production.
The future is Frosty
Frosty Boy’s key drivers for international expansion in the coming year include innovation, strong partnerships, and a deep understanding of local consumer preferences. It is particularly interested in regions with a growing middle class. The company will also focus on Africa and similar regions, where population growth and diversity present good opportunities for its shelf-stable powder solutions.
‘Our legacy is our nostalgic and enduring Frosty Boy Australia brand, rooted in innovation and strong relationships with Australian suppliers,’ says Botha. ‘This positions us as pioneers of customer-centric solutions in the global dessert and beverage sector.’
Visit Frosty Boy Global website.
