While the manufacturing sector contracted to the lowest level since August 2016, food and beverage manufacturers bucked the trend with "ongoing reasonable growth", Australian Industry Group's latest Performance of Manufacturing Index has found.

The sale of SPC fruit and processing business has been completed. Coca-Cola Amatil made the announcement on 1July, with the sale completed on 28 June.

Choice is calling on health ministers to remodel the Health Star Rating System to distinguish between added sugars and naturally occurring sugars in foods.

Specialist bakery manufacturer Bakers Maison has set out to reduce its carbon footprint wherever possible, achieving a 30 per cent reduction in the last two years.

Results from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) 25th Australian Total Diet Study have revealed agricultural and veterinary chemicals are “generally very low...indicating no public and safety concerns” to the Australian food supply.

Greater company cohesion and a drive to grow the Diverseco group of companies were key factors behind a major organisational rebrand announced today (1July), CEO Brenton Cunningham told Food & Drink Business.

The purchase by Mars of a majority shareholding in German active nutrition business, foodspring, will result in a $64m windfall for Fonterra.

Bubs Australia and China's largest baby store chain, Kidswant, have announced a supply agreement. Bubs food products will now be available in 275 Kidswant stores in 123 cities throughout China.

South Australian confectionery company Robern Menz has appointed Peter Siebels as its new chair. Siebels is principal of his own advisory business, chair of Hood Sweeney and Fox Creek Wines and vice president of the Royal Automobile Association of SA.

Supermarket giant Aldi is committing to dramatically reducing its plastic packaging, saying it will axe it by a quarter within the next six years, and will cease supply of many single use plastic products by the end of next year.

New Zealand’s Tatua Dairy Company has launched a new range of pouches for its specialty cream products using Ecolean film and pouch system – one of the first times this has been employed in the cream category in the region.

Coca-Cola Amatil has produced Australia's first carbonated soft drink bottles from 100 per cent recycled plastic. Group managing director Alison Watkins says "every beverage container should be recycled and live again".

The seventh round of the Coles Nurture Fund opened this week. Farmers and food producers can apply for financial assistance to develop new products, processes and technologies.

Yellow Tail winemaker Casella Family Brands has denied rumours it is selling its business, telling Food & Drink Business it, “will continue to invest in the growth of its portfolio of brands”.

The digital edition of our bumper June edition is now available for your reading pleasure.

Vaughan Constructions has been awarded the contract to build Australia's largest distribution centre for German supermarket company, Kaufland. The $255 million facility will include more than 117,000 square metres of building area.