COVID-19 has provided the disruption needed to change thinking around Australian manufacturing, Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said in her National Press Club address (20 May). Andrews said disruption to global supply chains was a wake-up call for many businesses.

Fonterra Co-operative Group recorded $815 million normalised earnings before interest and tax for the nine months to 30 April. CEO Miles Hurrell said it was a $301 million increase on the corresponding period last year.

Consultancy firm BMA Group is hosting a webinar on managing costs in times of uncertainty on 28 May.

A pick-and-mix dog treat bar is just one feature of the new Coles Local in Rose Bay, Sydney. The Local format is tailored to the area, partnering with local food businesses to meet the needs of local residents.

Meluka Australia has officially expanded into the US with its bio-fermented honey and lemon concentrate, following the producer’s listing as one of the top 10 honey sellers on Amazon US earlier in the month.

Pitango has partnered with meat-free company Sunfed Foods to create its new chicken-free chicken soup, made from yellow pea protein.

With two major recalls of juice brands in the last week, global head of food and beverage at ABB Tatjana Milenovic looks at what companies can do to mitigate the risk of recall.

The data science and AI experts at Quantium are rolling out a new platform that places a range of advanced AI solutions at the fingertips of FMCG companies.

Consumer awareness about the environmental impact of plastic, especially in food and beverage packaging, has reached a tipping point. Infor ANZ managing director Jarrod Kinchington says software will help manage the transition to cleaner options.

A new initiative from Swisse Wellness, the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and Swinburne University of Technology is turning wine industry waste into premium nutraceutical ingredients ready for sale in local and export markets.

Queensland Yoghurt Company has paid a $12,600 penalty after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission issued the business with an infringement notice for failing to disclose gelatine in some of its products.

Sydney-based Zammit Ham & Bacon Curers has pleaded guilty to breaching a guideline in the Work Health and Safety Act following an incident injuring a forklift operator. The meat production company was convicted and fined $75,000.

Lemon myrtle tea is fast emerging as a potential international export as one of the country’s largest commercial growers of the botanical, Australian Native Products, expects to substantially increase its production by 2021.

Australian brand and creative agency Optimo Designs has gained exclusive rights to an Artificial Intelligence-based platform which aims to deliver category-specific trends and changes in consumer behaviour as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.

In a bid to help Foodbank Australia address ta doubling in demand for support, the maker of Leggo’s pasta sauce, Simplot Australia, has provided 85,500 jars of Napoletana pasta sauce.

The Arnott’s Big Recipe Release campaign continues with a Tim Tam Brownie. In the last three weeks it has shared an adapted-for-home recipe for the Monte Carlo, Scotch Finger and Iced VoVo.