Kerry Group says the divestment of its dairy business and the company's decision to focus exclusively on science backed taste and nutrition solutions drove recent changes in its senior executive team.

After 23 years leading Cooper’s Brewery – Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery – Dr Tim Cooper says it’s time to retire as managing director. He will remain the chief brewer and a director, providing input on brewing and technical matters.

Melbourne’s Hawkers Beer and Sydney’s White Bay Brewery have come together as the founding brands of the freshly minted hospitality outfit, Social Drinks Group. The group starts officially trading on 1 February.

Australian sparkling wine house, Jansz Tasmania, part of Hill-Smith Family Estates, has appointed Teresa Heuzenroeder as its new Senior Sparkling Winemaker.

Korean food company CJ Foods Oceania’s brand, bibigo, is expanding into IGA supermarkets, with six products being stocked including two new dumpling varieties. Bibigo is now available in more than 70 per cent of grocery stores in Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating Woolworths’ proposed buy-out of ready meals company Beak & Johnston Holdings (City Kitchen) on competition, and access and expansion issues for the ready meals market.

Chicken and egg processors, a smallgoods manufacturer, and wine producer are some of the eight food and beverage companies to receive a share of $7 million in the latest round of the state’s Value Add Investment Grants program.

ABAC has published its best practice guide for responsible alcohol sponsorship. The guide highlights how the code currently applies to sponsorship activity, and how the new guidance will assist the industry.

Running for its fourth year, Young Henrys has launched its annual International Women’s Day Brewing Scholarship, in partnership with TAFE NSW and Blundstone Australia.

Pace Farm has signed an in-principle agreement to acquire Victorian fresh egg producer, Kinross Farms. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is being reviewed by the ACCC.

Kellanova Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) has appointed Michelle Leadbetter to Commercial Director, Snacks, ANZ. Leadbetter previously led the Grocery and Convenience channel at Sanofi Healthcare. 

Independent brewery, Local Brewing Co., says its $400,000 grant from the Coles Nurture Fund will enable it to greatly expand production of its brewing innovation, EcoCrumb, transforming even more surplus bread into a substitute for traditional grain used to brew beer.

The Coca-Cola Company says it will expand into the Australian alcoholic ready-to-drink category with its acquisition of Billson’s Beverages. Billson’s went into voluntary administration in July last year.

Five food companies are part of the first cohort to receive funding through the federal Industry Growth Program. Harvest B, DFDU, Cauldron Molecules, Forager Automation, and Seastock join 15 other recipients spanning robotics, medical manufacturing, defence, mining, and agriculture.

Food science and technology students from William Angliss Institute recently unveiled cutting-edge food and beverage concepts at the institute’s bi-annual New Product Launch. The concepts reflected the latest trends in ethical, sustainable, gluten-free, vegan, low-sugar, and zero-alcohol markets.

TasFoods 4Q24 results landed the company its third consecutive quarter of positive operating cash flows, despite revenue from its poultry operations being down seven per cent on the prior comparable period (pcp).