It is a common misconception that a thorough understanding of a factory’s operations equates to also knowing how best to solve any issues when they arise. Chris Sackett from CDE Design Solutions explains how to avoid this mistake.

Australians’ love of the ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage is at a record high, with the latest data from Roy Morgan finding “well over” one in five of us regularly enjoying them. While RTD consumption has more than doubled since before the pandemic, what else has changed?

Latest figures from inventory management software provider, Unleashed, reveal Australian beverage manufacturers ended the year with a strong $2.93 profit margin on each dollar invested in Q4 CY23. Food producers’ margins weren’t quite so rosy, at $1.87 per dollar spent.

Following the completion of its $1 million capital raise, better-for-you beverage brand, Gravity Drinks Co, has appointed Greg Mitchell as CEO. Mitchell brings industry experience to the role from his tenures at Coca-Cola Amatil and Carlton United Breweries.

From 6000 wine growers, leading viticulture and wine experts selected Australia’s top vineyards at the fourth annual Vineyard of the Year Awards. South Australia out-performed other states, with 18 vineyards making the final list of 41, recognised for innovation and sustainability.

Australian venture studio Blue Ocean Ventures says the goal of its first project, biotech start-up SHRMP.bio, is to build a sustainable seafood manufacturing system.

In an industry first, Fonterra’s ingredients and solutions brand, NZMP, has launched an online calculator to help customers access the emissions profile of individual New Zealand NZMP products.

Secos Group, producer of MyEcoBag, has been successful in a joint industry-university bid to secure $40m in funds from the federal government to establish the CRC aimed at solving plastic waste.

A challenging economic climate, political and social uncertainty and insecurity, and an enduring focus on health and wellness make for a powerful motivational trinity for consumers when it comes to deciding what products and brands they will buy.

Nestlé Australia says the $32 million investment in its Smithtown plant in northern New South Wales will install more energy and time efficient equipment to increase production capacity of Milo, Nescafé mixes, Nesquik, and Malted Milk.

Allied Beverages’ patent-pending two-part can that converts into a cocktail shaker is set to launch later this year with the new BLVD ready-to-drink range. Visy will be making the cans.

The owner of award-winning Australian drinks brand Mother of Pearl Vodka is purchasing Australia’s first Frugalpac paper bottle machine, with the aim to provide an end-to-end bottling solution for wine and spirit brands in Australia and South-East Asia.

Workplace Gender Equality Australia has released its 2024 gender pay gap report. While 77 per cent of companies have an equal pay policy, women in food and beverage manufacturing are still paid 12.5-13 per cent less than men.

The Brown Family Wine Group has achieved Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA) certification across the entirety of its vineyards and winemaking sites. It follows the certification of two of its vineyards and two wine making plants last year.  

While food and agriculture have accounted for the largest share of Australian-founded synthetic biology start-ups to date, the industry is worth up to $30 billion dollars a year, a new report by CSIRO and Main Sequence Ventures found.

Around 70 native food businesses attended the inaugural First Nations Native Food Blockchain Workshop in Victoria, exploring how the technology could support the industry and uphold Indigenous cultural intellectual property rights for Victorian Traditional Owners.