An impressive number of quality entries across The Hive Awards’ nine categories created a highly competitive line-up for judges to consider the exemplar of excellence and innovation in Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.
The panel of six independent industry experts – Dr Angeline Achariya of Innovation Gamechangers, Polly Burey of Food & Beverage Accelerator (FaBA), Ian Hayes of APCO, Nerida Kelton of AIP, Anna Tao of CSIRO, Paul Wood of Australian Academy of Tech Sciences & Engineering – as well as Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, and its publisher, Lindy Hughson, judged the entries over weeks.
“For the first year of the awards, we were blown away by the number and quality of entries we received. From small start-ups to global players, it was a highly competitive process that led to some robust discussions in the judging room.
“We congratulate all of the companies that entered and wish all the finalists well as we head towards the awards’ gala event,” Berry said.
The full list of finalists is below. Winners will be announced at The Hive Awards Long Lunch in Sydney on Thursday, 16 May. Don’t miss out, book your tables now to avoid disappointment.
(All finalists are listed in alphabetical order of company name)
BEST INGREDIENT AWARD – recognising the best development and/or application of an ingredient for use in a food or beverage product.
AusGrape, Australian Vintage – 68 Brix Preservative Free High Aroma Muscat Grape Juice Concentrate
Australian Plant Proteins – Australia's first plant protein isolate powder
Harvest B – Beef Style Protein Pieces
Nourish Ingredients – Tastilux
Sprout Organic – Plant-based organic infant milk formula
TWØBAYS Brewing Co – Gluten-free craft beer
BEST PROCESSING AWARD – recognises the best project displaying a product or process innovation and/or application.
Beak & Johnston
East Forged
Robotic Automation
The LittleOak Company
Unipharm
BEST PACKAGING AWARD – recognises the best innovation and/or application of packaging for food and/or beverage products.
Caps & Closures – ThermoShield Temperature Monitoring System
Confoil – DualPakECO Certified Compostable Food Trays
Detpak – Kerbside Recyclable Paper Bag for Fresh Potatoes
George Weston Foods (DON Smallgoods) – FLOW
Nestlé – KitKat 90% Recycled Plastic Wrapper
Planet Protector – Woolpack Insulated Packaging for Cold Supply Chains
Zipform Packaging – The Good Smoothie Milk Powder Composite Pack
BEST NPD AWARD – recognising the best new product development and launch in 2023.
Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod – Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar
BetterDays Beverage Co – Cactus Water
Caps & Closures – EzyPour: Precision Pouring, Sustainable Solutions
Chobani – Chobani No Sugar Added
Perfection Fresh – Air Fryer Vege range
LOCAL MANUFACTURING – for excellence in the production and manufacturing of Australian food and beverage products.
CST Wastewater Solutions
Feel Good Bananas
Mondelēz
Openway Food Co, Table of Plenty
San Elk
SPC Global
The Other Chef, Makers & Providores
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD (HEADCOUNT OVER 75) – for an entire organisation and its workforce in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Mondelēz
The Dinner Ladies
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD (HEADCOUNT UNDER 75) – for an entire organisation and its workforce in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Kommunity Brew
Mingle Seasoning
Packserv
RISING STAR – recognising a startup that is less than three years old and has disrupted established markets.
Compassion Creamery
Lūla Rum
Naked Rivals
The Honey Thief
GAMECHANGER – for the company that embodies new ideas, innovations, and practices for the benefit of future food systems.
Food and Agribusiness Network
Liberty Loves Australia, Zest Element
OzHarvest Ventures, Kakadu Kitchen
Packserv
The LittleOak Company
Vow
THE GOLDEN HIVE
The Golden Hive recipient is selected by Food & Drink Business from the category winners and will be announced at the awards ceremony.
Sponsors
Food & Drink Business and The Hive Awards thank this year’s sponsors:
PLATINUM SPONSOR
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
