Our bumper final issue of the year is here, leading with our annual, exclusive, and not-to-be-missed Australia's Top 100 Food & Drink Companies report for 2020. We look back on the year as well as what lies ahead. You can read it all here.
Editor's Pick
From the Minister and By Association
Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews writes for us this issue, explaining the major role food and beverage is playing in a new era of Australian manufacturing. Read from page 7.
Industry heavyweights Tanya Barden from the Australian Food & Grocery Council, Geoff Parker from the Australian Beverages Council and Tim Piper from AiGroup then reflect on COVID-19 impacts and implications for the sector. That is from page 12.
The MD of the Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre Dr Jens Goennemann rounds out the discussion with what needs to happen to secure the long-term prosperity of our manufacturing capability - from page 14.
Year in Review - Mergers & Acquisitions
If nothing else, 2020 showed the food and beverage sector slows for no-one. From the finalisation of billion dollar deals like Asahi's acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries to selling spuds, this year had it all. Of course, in the brief week and a half since we went to print, Bega Cheese acquired Lion Dairy & Drinks for $560 million. Catch-up on all the done deals from page 70.
Rising Star
A meeting with an American venture capitalist at Australia's inaugural Global Table event last year, resulted in Veronica Fil and Shaun Quade taking their plant-based cheese start-up Grounded to the US. Their aim to enter a much bigger plant-based market (California alone is bigger than Australia and New Zealand combined) has paid off. It is an inspiring story about a passionate couple with a unique product. Read from page 20.
Packaging Line Priorities
The CEO of our Top 100 sponsor Foodmach, Earle Roberts, explains how companies can make the most of the federal government's recently announced $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy. As he says, "The march of progress is inevitable". Integration into full packaging lines, optimising line balance, ensuring machines talk to each other, transparency, and machinery-as-a-service are all priorities or up for consideration. Read from page 16.
And of course, we have all the latest news, new products to hit the shelves, equipment updates and loads more. It is all available in a click.
