Hort Innovation has launched a new R&D program aiming to increase the daily vegetable consumption of Australians by one serve a day, which the organisation says could contribute $3.3 billion across the vegetable supply chain.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has gone part way in addressing calls from beer and spirit producers to freeze the twice-yearly indexed excise they pay by doing so for two years from this August, but only for beer. The spirits industry says there is no policy rationale to not include spirits in the decision.

Calling on all innovators in food and drink manufacturing! Entries for The Hive Awards 2025 need to be in today! This is your last opportunity to showcase your project or product on centre stage and be celebrated in Australia's only awards program that encompasses the whole sector. 

The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) has appointed Tim Ryan as its new CEO, effective 27 February. The position has been vacant since previous CEO, Patrick Hutchinson, announced he would be stepping down on 1 November 2024.

Award-winning South Australian distillery, Prohibition Liquor, has undertaken one of the state’s largest equity crowdfunding raises, aiming to raise $4 million with support from its enthusiastic fanbase.

For the beverage and liquid food industries, all roads lead to Munich this September, where the world’s biggest trade show – drinktec – will take place. With only eight months to go, preparations are in full swing for the industry’s global summit, set to run from 15-19 September 2025 at the Munich exhibition centre.

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has launched a national isotope database, set to support the verification of sustainability and provenance claims for Australian food.

Unilever CEO and board director, Hein Schumacher, is stepping down on 1 March after less than 2 years in the job, a decision the company said was “by mutual agreement”. The position will be filled by current CFO and executive director, Fernando Fernandez.

The inaugural Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Program is underway, having held its opening ceremony this week at the Shanghai office of Penfolds brand, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE).

Suntory Oceania has appointed Dai Minato as CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, effective from April, as the business gears up for the launch of its $3 billion multi-beverage business in mid-2025.

Every week, Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, brings you the latest news from the food and beverage manufacturing sector. This week: In the news this week: THE HIVE AWARDS FINAL CALL, Woolworths, Australian Vintage, Perfection Fresh, federal excise remission cap changes, Arnotts, Sydney Brewery, Sonoma Bread, Berkelo Bakery and RMIT. 

Woolworths interim 1H25 results revealed a 20 per cent drop in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $739 million and a 14 per cent drop in group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to $1.45 billion. CEO Amanda Bardwell said the results were disappointing and announced there would be $400 million in cost cutting. 

Researchers from RMIT University have received the Problem Solver People’s Choice at the Universities Australia’s Shaping Australia Awards for their coffee concrete, which can turn waste coffee grounds into building materials.

Wine Australia’s Next Crop program is expanding to four regions for 2025, delivered by Coonawarra Grape and Wine, Barossa Australia, Wine Victoria and the Queensland Wine Industry Association.

The results of the 2025 Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Produce Show are in, celebrating products across the industry. This year had the highest medal rating to date, with over 91 per cent of entries receiving a gold, silver, or bronze medal.

The latest research from global beverage alcohol data company, IWSR, has shown the global drinks industry is facing a “subdued but opportunity-rich” trading environment in 2025, with five key trends set to shape the year ahead.