In 2020, Foodbank obtained almost 49 million kilograms of food and groceries for people in need, an increase of nearly 15 per cent on 2019 and equal to 87.9 million meals.

Happy New Year! Sure, it’s February but the year is still young. This time last year there were rumours of a virus impacting China, but an optimism it would all be sorted out by the end of Chinese New Year. It was a simpler time. We have a cracker of an issue for you to get the year underway.

Sanitarium Health Food Company has joined the Future Food Systems CRC consortium and will work with the UNSW to improve the functional properties of its Barista dairy-free milk range.

Fonterra and science and nutritional specialist Royal DSM are working on reducing on-farm greenhouse gas emissions by reducing methane emissions from cows.

Asahi Beverages has appointed Roland van Bommel as chair of Asahi Holdings Australia (AHA). He joined the board in 2013 and has been acting chair since December, when Peter Margin resigned.

Manufacturing of Weis ice creams will be moved from Toowoomba, Queensland, to its Minto plant in New South Wales. Weis bars have been made in Toowoomba since 1957.

The Perich family will invest up to $200 million in Freedom Foods Group’s recapitalisation plans, after failing to reach an agreement with a new investor. Months of negotiations with the potential party came to naught for the group, with the business announcing today that an agreement on the terms could not be reached.

Bubs Australia has reported a strong quarter-on-quarter turn around in what founder and CEO Kristy Carr said are still challenging market conditions.

Iconic pie business Mrs Mac’s has announced Jonathan Moss as its new CEO. He will join the company on February 1.

D’Orsogna, Huon Aquaculture, Tailor Made Spirits and Australian Truffle Traders are four of the 18 agrifood businesses selected to share $10 million from the Western Australian Government.

There has been a 40 per cent upswing in patron confidence for pubs and clubs, a national survey by Diageo has found, with more than 82 per cent of Australians confident of returning to their local pub.

Bega Cheese’s acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks has been completed, with brands Dairy Farmers, Pura, Farmers Union, Big M, Daily Juice, The Juice Brothers and Berri joining the Bega stable.

Pernod Ricard Winemakers says it will significantly lower its procurement and production costs with an AI system across its business and supply chain operations.

Australian retailers made almost double the renewable energy commitments of any other industry in 2020, Greenpeace Australia’s latest report card says.

A Canberra IPA has been crowned Craft Beer of 2020 in the annual GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll. Bentspoke’s Crankshaft American IPA took out top honours, with Capital Brewing’s XPA winning best debut beer.

Soft drinks, water and juice have returned to growth for Coca-Cola Amatil, the company announced in a trading update today (22 January). The 4Q20 rise was 0.4 per cent, after falling for the previous three quarters.