Committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Casella Family Brands has switched on its solar power facility at its Yenda, New South Wales site. Casella says the solar facility is the largest of its kind in the Australian beverage sector.

Dr Craig Emerson has delivered his interim report on his review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. Making the code mandatory is widely accepted as the large supermarkets call for broadening its reach to other large retailers like Bunnings, Costco and Amazon. Emerson delivered eight recommendations and three for further consultation.

In partnership with a European plant-based engineering provider, Australian company Wide Open Agriculture is ready to commercialise its lupin fibre product, an alternative to traditional dietary fibres.

After 35 years of craft brewing, Victorian-based Grand Ridge Brewery has filed for voluntary administration, appointing Mackay Goodwin as administrators. The brewer said the decision followed mounting financial pressures and rising costs and taxes. 

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is launching an Awards of Excellence program, to highlighting the outstanding performance and achievements of small businesses customers within their total business operations.

Inflation and labour shortages have placed significant burdens on the food and beverage manufacturing sector, exacerbated by consumers facing a cost-of-living crisis. Liam Merrick from ECI Solutions explains how digital technologies can help streamline and optimise operations. 

Just two and a half years after Mighty Craft acquired the Adelaide Hills Group for $47 million, it has sold the remaining brands – Adelaide Hills Distillery (78 Degrees gin) and Mismatch Brewing Co – to a consortium of pubs and high-profile industry investors for $7.2 million.

A decision by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for the Port of Newcastle to pay a one-off compensation of $10 million to the New South Wales government leaves just one regulatory hurdle before the port can become a container terminal.

Smallgoods producer D’Orsogna is celebrating 75 years of operation. Commencing as a butcher shop in 1949, the family-owned business now employs 800 people to produce and distribute a range of cured and cooked whole and sliced hams, gourmet continental goods, bacon and cooked sausages.

Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) says Queensland’s reputation for quality produce is driving international interest in health and wellness products being produced in the state.

Allied Pinnacle has selected FMCG brand and design agency, Molasses, as the creative lead to launch its Wise Wheat brand. Allied was exclusively granted the licensed patents to produce High Fibre Wheat in Australia in April last year.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has announced Michael Crowley as its next managing director, starting in the role on 27 May. Crowley is currently CEO of Herefords Australia.

Up to 750 SMEs will benefit from CSIRO's latest investment into its SME Connect initiative, which is aimed at boosting R&D opportunities. Its flagship program, CSIRO Kick-Start, has facilitated more than 280 projects since it began in 2017. 

Australian cultivated meat company, Vow, has unveiled its latest creation, an entirely new animal called Quailia. CEO George Peppou says it embodies Vow’s purpose, to create “utterly delicious” meat using cell-culturing technology.

New Zealand dairy company, Synlait Milk, has received a small reprieve in what has been a particularly challenging year with a two month extension to repay NZ$130 million that was due on 28 March.

For many manufacturers, food safety is a necessary cost centre they want to spend as little as possible on while still satisfying regulatory compliance. Troy Gosetti, a product specialist with global food safety company Neogen, explains how a different approach – using advanced workflow and analytics technology – can lead to greater ROI.