Cell-cultured kangaroo meat start-up granted $25k

Quarter of all manufacturing in south-east Melbourne is in the food and beverage sector, research by the Australian Food and Grocery Council has found. Food processing is now the fifth largest economic contributor to five federal electorates: Aston, Chisholm, Deakin, Hotham and Isaacs.

Global metal packaging manufacturer Jamestrong opened a new $15 million, future-proofed, can making facility in Auckland last night, catering to the burgeoning infant formula market.

PepsiCo has spent $37m upgrading its Regency Park manufacturing facility in South Australia. Over the last three years, new technology has been installed and legacy equipment replaced to increase capacity and improve environmental performance.

With growth in the functional beverage space showing no slowing down, Australian Beverages Council CEO Geoff Parker takes a 
closer look at the sector.

Global ingredients and premix company Prinova has set up a subsidiary in Australia to better service the Asia-Pacific market. It comes as a direct response to customers wanting production support in APAC, the company said.

Coles has unveiled its first convenience-focused supermarket in Glen Waverly, Melbourne. The new ‘store of the future’ format caters to increasing consumer demand for easy meal options including prepared ingredients and ready meals.

Chinese Sichuan brand Haoji has entered Australia with its range of sauces, and is the first market launch for the brand outside of China.

The KitKat Chocolatory has introduced a limited edition release range of dark chocolate, crafted from some of the world's rarest cocoas sourced from three volcanic islands.

Low-calorie ice cream brand Halo Top has launched its range of sticks in stores, including a new flavour for Australian consumers, Strawberry Cheesecake.

Going beyond a label and packaging refresh, Taylors Wines' portfolio update includes augmented reality to deepen engagement with consumers, and an NFC-chipped screw cap for authentication and tamper-evidence.

FMCG brands are fast realising the power of the printed pack as a platform for driving consumer engagement, with AR technology advances taking this to the next level. At a forum in Sydney on 12 August, Campbell Arnott's will put AR to the test.

Sydney-based printing house Luminar has ramped up its digital pouch printing capabilities with the purchase of a mammoth new press – a move that could give food and beverage manufacturers a big boost.

A water brand created by US actor, rapper and entrepreneur Jaden Smith has launched into Australia with packaging designed to ease plastic bottle pollution in the ocean.

Brewing luminary Chuck Hahn has taken Kosciuszko Brewing Company back to tins with a couple of innovations planned for the canning line.

Australian hydration-boosting drink PREPD is looking for a capital injection to expand its business and grow market share.