The MD of fresh fruit producer Piñata Farms, Gavin Scurr, has been unanimously elected as chair of the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) for 2024. He brings more than 30 years’ experience to the role.

Infant formula company, Bubs Australia, is confident it will be cash flow positive in FY25, with Q2 FY24 recording an 79.7 per cent jump in gross revenue on the prior corresponding period (pcp).

With the inaugural Hive Awards now underway, the question has been asked, why the hive? It was about recognising the complexity of our food and beverage manufacturing sector and the importance of multiple parts working together for its success.

In the last 12 months, Australian wine exports declined in value and volume, Wine Australia’s latest Export Report found. Despite improving on previous figures, the industry body said the results were well below long-term averages.

Finalists for the 2024 India Australia Business & Community Alliance (IABCA) Awards have been announced, celebrating achievements and contributions in India-Australia trade. Marquis Marketing, a branch of Marquis Macadamias, was nominated in the Excellence in Trade & Investment category.

New research from La Trobe University has revealed how perceptions about speciesism and common farming practices affect consumers and their meat consumption. The lack of research in non-Western cultures prompted an investigation into the differences between Australia and Hong Kong.

Costa Group shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Paine Schwartz Partners’ (PSP) offer to acquire the company for $3.20 per share, valuing the fresh produce company at $1.5 billion.

Woolworths Group still expects its earnings to increase by 2.8-3.8 per cent to roughly $1.7 billion before tax and interest this year, despite a write-down of its New Zealand unit, a $209m loss against Endeavour Group, and an under-performing Big W.

Eleven Brisbane-based businesses have been selected for Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s (BEDA) 2024 Future Food Global Accelerator program. This year’s participants are progressing a range of innovations from seaweed technology to freeze-dried goat feta.

Heinz has partnered with national charity Eat Up to donate its Beanz to Eat Up’s school lunch program. A recent survey by Heinz revealed that almost a third of Australian parents have had to budget for and change what they put in their child’s lunchbox due to inflation.  

Food redistribution platform Yume says its latest $2 million seed funding round, led by an Asia-Pacific-based early-stage venture capital firm, Investible, will go towards growing its technology capabilities in preparation for expansion overseas. 

The family that bought Darrell Lea out of voluntary administration in 2012 has come to the rescue of another loved brand, Sara Lee. Klark and Brooke Quinn have acquired the business as a going concern, securing more than 200 jobs and an assured supply of frozen desserts.  

A project led by CSIRO’s Trusted Agrifood Exports Mission is digitising safety compliance and quality assurance for food producers to reduce the regulatory burden and unlock insights and opportunities missed in a paper-based piecemeal system.

Victoria Bitter has launched its first major advertising campaign in more than five years, featuring a change to the famous VB anthem, and a broader, more inclusive theme aiming to redefine what ‘hard work’ means. 

Mountain Culture Beer Co’s Status Quo Pale Ale took top honours at this year’s GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer competition. It was the second year in a row for Mountain Culture, with 436 craft breweries submitting 1877 beers for consideration by the voting public.

In this series, Food & Drink Business revisits its Rising Star alumni. Our regular Rising Star feature in the print magazine profiles founders and their young companies, selected for innovation, creativity, tenacity, and potential. This week, we catch up with OMGhee founder Lisa Ormenyessy.