As Fine Food Australia celebrates its 40th anniversary, there has been a focus shift towards the evolving landscape of retail sustainability, a key theme in driving the foodservice industry towards more responsible production practices. This year, Fine Food Australia is excited to host a handful of Australia’s forward-thinking brands committed to leading the future of sustainable retail methods.
At the heart of the event is the Straight to the Source feature stage with their theme “Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, and Rescue”. Discussions will highlight critical aspects of retail sustainability, such as reducing waste and innovative packaging solutions, in hopes to reshape how retailers think about waste, product lifecycle, and wider community impact.
Following suit is Richard Seymour of Mount Zero Olives, a panelist for Straight to The Source, and who also shares in their aligned initiative with Mount Zero Olives’ Zero Waste Warehouse Market hosted multiple times a year. A fitting example of the potential for businesses to thrive economically while still upholding environmental and community values.
Reinforcing this sustainable vision, the partnership with the Victorian government through Global Victoria highlights the region's commitment to supporting the food and beverage sector's growth, both locally and globally. By offering qualified connections that lead to commercial outcomes and exploring emerging food trends, such as this year’s sustainability focus, to support industry growth.
Several Victorian brands at the forefront of sustainable practices include:
- Nutri V
Tackling food waste by utilising quality excess vegetables and developing them into 100% vegetable powders. - Wonki
Beginning in a university accelerator program, the team at Wonki cleverly converts discarded fruit into alcoholic beverages. Reducing food waste and proving sustainability can be fun and impactful. - Love Tea
With their direct partnerships with growers, Love Tea ensures that every cup of tea supports sustainable agriculture and supports well-being.
Fine Food Australia is on 2-5 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
