And off we go. The first edition of Food & Drink Business for 2023 has arrived. We hit the ground running this issue, with our annual trends forecast feature starting on page 24.
It is an interesting time for brands and manufacturers trying to attract consumers. There is a pall over the economy with interest rates and inflation making people watch their spending, but then the weight of that triggers a need to lash out or ‘revenge spend’, all while we’re still conscious of our health, the environment, and corporate behaviour.
On page 11, Jessica Olivier and Dr Rebecca Barnes from RSM Australia provide tips on how to keep cashflow ticking over in challenging times.
Corporate behaviour is something that came up repeatedly when I was researching our feature story on regional manufacturing. I spoke to a number of CEOs who were equally passionate about the importance of regional food and beverage production as they were about those companies then playing a role in the community to nurture a climate that entices other companies to head out of the cities. That’s on page 12.
One of the other themes that rang out in that story was the need for a skilled workforce, something the Australian Refrigeration Council CEO Glenn Evans knows all about. He writes on page 38 about the technological advancements within the cold chain that are demanding more skills and training than ever before.
Our cover story (page 16) features specialist automation machinery company Trimatt Systems and its quest this year to enable packaging flexibility and creativity to as many food and beverage SMEs as it can with its aqueous ink colour digital printer.
Also making her mark is nutrition and food systems expert Anneline Padayachee. Her story on page 22 raises some salient points about the rise of alternative proteins through the lens of low-middle income countries as opposed to our privileged viewpoint.
And our first Fast 5 for the year is Ferrero’s managing director ANZ, Massimo D’Ambrosio.
As the year gets underway there is a lot to consider, whether it is NPD, education, environmental initiatives, or to just keep swimming. Wherever you are on that spectrum, we’re here to keep you informed.
Quicklinks for you:
Trends 2023 – page 24
Fresh & Chilled – page 34
The Cold Chain – page 38
Industry 4.0 – page 42
