An $8 million federal government grant program aimed at accelerating Australia’s seaweed industry has delivered new research capability, production infrastructure and international collaboration to support commercial growth of Asparagopsis, the methane-inhibiting seaweed used in livestock feed supplements.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and NSW producer, The Gourmet Goat Lady, have completed a proof-of-concept project demonstrating that goat salami can be safely manufactured and sold in Australia, opening a new value-added opportunity for the goatmeat sector.

The Western Australian government has invested $437,500 in the state’s agrifood and beverage sector as part of its Value Add Investment Grant program, with funding going towards feasibility studies that support business expansion, diversification, and growth.

Soft Plastic Stewardship Australia (SPSA) and its industry partners have received long-term approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to operate a national soft plastics collection and recycling scheme, under an eight-year authorisation announced last week.

McCain Foods has dedicated a full day of production at its Ballarat plant to Foodbank Australia, producing and donating more than 81,000 meals to help households experiencing food insecurity.

After a year-long investigation into allegations Italian producers of prepared or preserved tomato products were dumping and/or subsidising stock in Australia, the Anti-Dumping Commission has found three Italian exporters did so during the investigation period.

Woolworths has opened its new Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in Western Sydney, joining the company’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) at the Moorebank Logistics Precinct, which was completed in November 2024.

The NSW Government has announced the next phase of its Plastics Plan, setting out a roadmap to phase out single-use and problematic plastics as part of its broader strategy to tackle the state’s waste crisis.

More than 150 of Australia’s innovation experts gathered in Canberra last week for the annual National Innovation Policy Forum. Leaders from business, research and boundary-spanning entities, policymakers and parliamentarians were there, looking at how best to address the significant challenges facing local R&D.

Endeavour Group has made several changes to its executive team, including appointing Benjamin Ward as Dan Murphy’s managing director, Catriona Larritt as the newly created chief customer officer, and new chief digital and legal officers.

Three Australian companies have been recognised at the 2025 Top Shelf Awards, honouring the winners from the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits and Ready to Drink Competitions – Burdekin Rum, Callington Mill, and Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic.

Inghams Group has reaffirmed its FY26 earnings guidance despite higher-than-expected operational costs across its Australian operations. The poultry producer expects underlying EBITDA pre-AASB 16 to be between $215 million and $230 million.

Diageo has appointed Dave Lewis as its next CEO and executive director, as the global drinks company grapples with debt, US tariffs, and consumers’ drinking less alcohol. He starts on 1 January 2026.

The Kimberley Meat Company (KMC), the only commercial-scale abattoir in northern Western Australia, and its parent company, Yeeda Pastoral Company, have been acquired by TLP4 Australian Holdings, a subsidiary of Canadian government-owned investment fund, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo).

Foodservice distributor, PFD Food Services, is doubling the size of its Western Australian operations, with a new 22,290 square metre flagship facility set to open in ASCEND Industrial Estate, at Jandakot Airport, in October 2026.

Suntory Oceania has completed the $30 million IT transformation at its recently opened $400 million Swanbank factory in Ipswich, Queensland, which has been in the works for over three years.