Close to 3500 medals were awarded across established and emerging categories at this year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Four Pillars was the only Australian producer to be awarded a trophy, with gin still leading the spirits market.

Fonterra Co-operative Group has reported strong FY25 results, underpinned by higher revenue, record farmer payments and progress on its strategy to focus on Ingredients and Foodservice.

Mintel Most Innovative, created to celebrate the best in consumer packaged goods (CPG) innovation, is back for its second year. The global recognition project aims to spotlight brands that are redefining categories, setting new standards, and inspiring the industry to think bigger and bolder.

Australian biotech company, Nourish Ingredients, is bringing its specialty fats and precision fermentation technology into the European food manufacturing ecosystem, with the establishment of a global commercial hub in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Australia’s first-to-market, Indigenous-owned, non-alcoholic craft beer company, Sobah Beverages, has entered voluntary administration. Worrells has been appointed administrator. Founded in 2017 by Dr Clinton Schultz and Lozen McDiarmid, Sobah opened its own brewery on Queensland’s Gold Coast in 2023.

Australian Distilling Ltd has appointed RSM Australia as voluntary administrators. The company’s brands are Old Young’s, Juniper Society, and Gingin Gin and is based in the Swan Valley region of Perth, Western Australia. It was established in 2014.

Welcome to the latest issue of Food & Drink Business. As the end of the year approaches at a rate of knots, this edition reveals the sector is showing no signs of slowing down. From large-scale builds to rethinking rum and non-alc beverages, this edition scales all aspects of the sector. Our processing and packaging tech feature looks at the latest equipment and its application, while our cover story with Neogen offers a rethink on how businesses approach food safety (hint: it's not a cost centre).

Australian Eggs has released its eighth annual Industry Sustainability Framework Community Research Report – revealing industry trust remains high, driven by confidence in regulation and reliance on eggs as a source of nutrition.

Ten Australian wines took home trophies from this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition, more than any other wine region in the world. In total, 40 wine trophies were awarded globally. The Margaret River was a stand-out performer, with nine of Australia’s trophies coming from the region, four of them for cabernet sauvignons.

Unilever has appointed Srinivas Phatak as its new chief financial officer after a thorough internal and external search process.

Bacardi Limited has made several internal leadership moves – with Dave Ingram appointed to the role of chief people & business transformation officer, and Nicole Zukowski to chief supply chain officer.

The latest data from inventory management software company, Unleashed, has shown the Australian manufacturing industry is restabilising after a long period of tumultuous supply chains, with food and beverage producers reporting a sharp rise in excess stock, after record lows at the end of last year.

Cocoa prices are starting to ease after hitting record highs, with the end of surge in sight. But according to the latest report from RaboResearch, prices will not return to pre- “cocoa crisis” levels.

The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales (RASNSW) has awarded some of Australia’s top spirits producers at the 2025 Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show, with South Australia’s St Agnes Distillery receiving the top honour for the second year running.

Mars has appointed Melodie Nye as managing director and general manager Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), of its Pet Nutrition division. Craig Sargeant, who has been in the role, will move to global vice president for Strategic Revenue Management.

Kimchi, once a humble staple of Korean households served at family dinners, has transformed into a billion-dollar global food phenomenon. CJ Foods Oceania CEO, Eugene Cha-Navarro, discusses the rise in popularity, and its impact on the Australian market.