Australian consumers are still feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, with food and utility costs still top concerns, according to the latest NielsenIQ survey. Consumers are spending less on clothing and out of home eating while expecting to spend more on utilities, rent/mortgage, groceries and household items.

Kimberly-Clark Australia and Woolworths have successfully completed a packaging trial aimed at eliminating the use of secondary plastic packaging for Viva paper towels, opening up opportunities for plastic waste reduction across industries.

The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is introducing new restrictions on single-use plastics in food and beverage packaging, set to take effect from 1 January 2025.

In developing a world-first, pure titanium, cross flow membrane solution, Australian industrial innovator, Products For Industry (PFi), turned to Rockwell Automation for the automation component. With more than 10 years of development, this fully evolved and tested product is now entering service in Australia with a leading beverages company, which will use the new technology to separate solids from liquid streams in various stages of the waste stream process.

For the last 12 months, 14 of Australia’s most experienced industry leaders and board members from across the food value chain volunteered to investigate the necessary food industry reforms and advocate priorities needed to transform the food system. It says Australia’s food industry has the potential to become a “second engine of economic growth”, mirroring that of the resources sector, but only if urgent action is taken to transform the system in the face of multiple challenges. 

The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) has welcomed the reinstatement of export approvals for the remaining two Australian processors that had been suspended from trade with China.

Casella Family Brands (CFB) will be taking over distribution of the Better Beer Company’s brand portfolio in Australia, effective immediately. Better Beer's products have been produced at a CFB-owned brewery since launching in 2021.

Industry minister, Ed Husic, has announced Tesla chair and former Telstra CFO, Robyn Denholm, will lead the government's Strategic Examination of Research & Development (R&D) that it announced in the May budget. The terms of reference were also released. 

Australian alcohol company, ASX-listed Top Shelf International (TSI), has enlisted the M&A team from EY to sell some or all of the business. Its brands include Ned Whiskey, Grainshaker Vodka, and Act of Treason Australian Agave.

Suntory Oceania has named chef and social media personality, Andy Hearnden, as the first brand ambassador for Suntory BOSS Coffee in Australia and New Zealand.

The International Fresh Produce Association Australia and New Zealand (IFPA ANZ) has appointed Belinda Wilson as its new managing director, effective 6 January 2025, following the recent resignation of Ben Hoodless.

Yaffa Media, one of Australia’s largest independent media companies, has acquired Spanton Media Group and all its assets, including industry-leading title Australian Bartender, the Australian Bar Awards and Sydney Bar Week.

EXBERRY color supplier, GNT, has launched an independent investment firm, aiming to accelerate innovation and boost sustainability at every stage of the value chain.

As food and beverage manufacturers and distributors navigate an evolving commercial landscape, the Commonwealth Bank’s CommBank Food and Beverage Manufacturing Insights Report May 2024 shows an undercurrent of confidence across the sector. That’s Amore Cheese CEO, Marco Alghisi, and CommBank’s industry lead for Manufacturing & Wholesale Trade, Maria Christina, discuss the industry's priorities.

Select Harvests managing director, David Surveyor, said the company’s $1.5 million net profit after tax (NPAT) for FY24, represents more than a $116 million turnaround from FY23, with an operating cash flow of $21.3 million being a 545.5 per cent increase on FY23.

Maggie Beer Holdings chair, Susan Thomas, told shareholders at this week’s AGM the board acknowledged the company must focus on earnings growth, capitalise on its “incredible” brand equity, and provide “proof points, not promises” to win back investor confidence after a year in which the company lost its CEO, CFO, and reported a $28.2 million loss.