Leading contract manufacturer, Hitex Confectionery, has appointed Darren Butler as its new CEO, aiming to propel a new stage of expansion following two years of transformation.

Queensland’s not-for-profit container management organisation, Container Exchange (COEX), has appointed Trevor Evans as interim chief executive officer, as the government finalises its response to troubling inquiry.

New South Wales’ container deposit scheme, Return and Earn, has passed 15 billion containers returned, with the state's recyclers receiving more than $1.5 billion in refunds since the program began.

The New South Wales government has established its $25 million Agriculture Industries Innovation and Growth Program to increase uptake of innovative technology and equipment in the local agriculture sector. Applications close 23 January.

The Western Australian government has announced recipients for round seven of its Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Program, offering a share of $680,000 in funding to small-to-medium food and beverage companies.

Treasury Wine Estates has flagged softer near-term earnings as category conditions weaken across key markets, while outlining a broad reset of inventory, capital structure and operating costs under newly appointed CEO, Sam Fischer.

Sydney-based biotech company, All G, has taken a major step in the lead-up to its first product launch – establishing a joint venture with French lactoferrin producer, Armor Protéines. The partnership will support All G’s aim to produce and commercialise recombinant human and bovine lactoferrin in 2026.

Eden Brew has submitted its precision-fermented milk protein to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) for assessment, the first product of this type to enter the regulatory approval process in Australia.

International multi-protein food business, Hilton Foods, has signed an agreement with CleanCo Queensland to have its Brisbane facility fully powered by renewable energy.

Our Top 100 2025 edition of Food & Drink Business magazine is more than the annual flagship Top 100 Report. Industry leaders reflect on the year past and the one ahead, we provide our annual news review, M&A wrap-up, and all the executive moves, and a Roman-inspired sports drink, Posca, is our final Rising Star for 2025.

A blend of salt, red wine vinegar, and water – known as Posca – was the ‘original sports drink’, helping to keep the soldiers of the Roman Empire marching up to 30 kilometres per day. Keira Joyce spoke with Posca Hydrate co-founders, Merrick Watts and Ed Stening, about reviving a 2000-year-old functional beverage for the modern healthy lifestyle.

From the big deals to the quiet divestments, Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, recounts the mergers and acquisitions of 2025.

It was a tough year for many with little relief from the pressures weighing on the sector since Covid. Editor Kim Berry provides this snapshot of the year that was.

Australia’s native food industry has received a boost – with Indigenous-owned Cooee Foods Australia acquiring native ingredients suppliers, Creative Native Foods – placing it under First Nations ownership for the first time in its 25 years.

The Top 10 remained a stable list this year, with five companies holding their position – Fonterra (#1), JBS (#2), Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (#3), Asahi (#4), and Thomas Foods International (#7). The biggest change was Treasury Wine Estates dropping out of the list, from #10 to #13.

Food & Drink Business and IBISWorld present this year’s Top 100 companies, a ranking of Australia’s largest food and drink companies by revenue. This year reflects a sector positioning itself for immediate term viability and long-term competitiveness.