With a company restructure, CEO of Asahi Beverage’s Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) business, Danny Celoni, has decided to leave the company. CEO Amanda Sellers said Celoni had made an “exceptional contribution” to the business and played an important role over recent months in discussions that resulted in the new structure. 

Entries are now open for the 2025 Hive Awards, and close 21 February. Check out 2024's Best Processing Award Winner, East Forged.

Idyll Wine Company has acquired Top Shelf International’s Campbellfield factory for $8 million. The sale includes all operational and production equipment, including bottling and canning lines, brewhouse and distillery.

Sludge dewatering is rarely seen in environmental or sustainability headlines, but it is an increasingly vital process in ensuring compliance with statutory groundwater, transport, disposal, and OHS regulations affecting both municipalities and industry. CST Wastewater Solutions managing director, Michael Bambridge, explains the best solutions for the food and beverage sector.

Food manufacturing expo, FoodTech QLD, is returning for 2025, featuring advancements in food production and science, supply chain, equipment and more. The event will take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 19-20 June.

Wine Australia’s latest Export Report has shown a significant rise in Australian wine exports in 2024, increasing by 34 per cent in value to $2.55 billion and by 7 per cent in volume to 649 million litres across the period from 1 January 2024-31 December 2024.

Nestlé Australia says its $30 million upgrade at the Campbellfield factory, Victoria will increase production capacity, R&D, and product quality for KitKats using the latest technology, automation, and AI.

Entries are now open for the 2025 Hive Awards, and close 21 February. Check out 2024's Best Ingredient Winner, Australian Plant Proteins.

The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) has unanimously elected managing director of Australian Produce Partners, Richard Clayton, as AFPA chair for 2025. He takes over from Piñata Farms’ Gavin Scurr.

A researcher from the University of Adelaide has devised a solution to tackle food waste and plastic pollution concurrently, with the development of a method to turn food waste into durable bioplastics.

AUSVEG, OMA, and Health and Wellbeing QLD are joining forces to encourage Aussies to eat an extra serve of veggies each day – aiming to combat public health crisis, support the under-pressure vegetable industry and ease cost-of-living pressures.

Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) CEO, Tanya Barden, has left the council, effective immediately. The council’s chair, Anthony Holme, said it was a “mutually agreed separation”. AFGC chief operating officer (COO), Colm Maguire, has been appointed interim CEO.

Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing industry is at a crucial point. We need collaboration with government and constructive commercial relationships with our retail partners for food and grocery manufacturers to thrive. Tanya Barden, when CEO of the AFGC, provided this article on the year ahead.

The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) has appointed David Gall as Chief Executive Officer, a week after the first investments of the fund were announced through the Industry Growth Program.

Oceanographer, chemist and entrepreneur, Emeritus Professor Tony Haymet, has been appointed Australia’s tenth Chief Scientist, effective 28 January. He replaces Dr Cathy Foley, who recently finished her four-year term.

Premium drinks brand, StrangeLove Beverage Co., has launched its first mainstream above the line (ATL) brand campaign with creative agency Today the Brave. The “Drinks for drinks’ sake” campaign is running in metro Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.