Every three years, Australia's food and beverage manufacturing industry gathers at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for foodpro – and this year Food & Drink Business was there as an exclusive media partner of the foodpro Industry Hub. In two minutes, here's a taste of some of what caught our eye across the show floor – the latest in processing and packaging, automation and robotics, food safety, sustainability and AI, and the people behind it.

Health and wellness food company OMG Group has reported FY26 net sales of around $6.1 million, up 49 per cent on the $4.1 million recorded in FY25. The company says it is expanding its Woolworths ranging, moving its matcha operation into commercial fulfilment, and establishing its first international distribution channels.

The National Food Council has released the key feedback gathered from stakeholders regarding the proposed scope of Australia’s National Food Security Strategy, announced in March 2025 and expected to be released in mid-2027.

Pure Foods Tasmania has closed FY26 with customer receipts up 30 per cent and its quarterly operating cash outflow more than halved, as the diversified food manufacturer continues its shift from restructure to growth.

The federal government has appointed two new directors to the Wine Australia board to help strengthen the organisation’s role in supporting the wine sector – Darryn Hakof and Stephen Strachan.

One of Australia’s largest dairy processors, Lactalis Australia, plans to phase out manufacturing at its Longwarry dairy factory, before shutting down the site in the first half of 2027.

Chocolate and confectionery company, Yowie Group, has posted a US$0.9 million (AU$1.3 million) first-half profit, reversing a US$4.66 million (AU$6.7 million) loss a year earlier.

An investigation by the ABC has uncovered alleged provenance fraud across major tomato products brands, with more than 22 per cent of tested samples not matching the claimed country of origin. Industry says the claims expose wider concerns over Australia’s inadequate food labelling and testing requirements.

Wine Australia and Vinehealth Australia are co-investing to modernise South Australia’s Vinehealth Vineyard Register and align it with the National Vineyard Register – a project announced in February following several difficult years for the Australian grape and wine sector.

Premium olive oil producer, Oasis Olives, has acquired the Alto Olives brand. The company stated the union of the Alto portfolio with Oasis Olives marks an exciting new stage in both businesses' evolution.

Winners of the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards (AISA) have been announced, recognising champion Australian distillers including St Agnes, Nil Desperandum Rum, and Maidenii.

Nestlé will spin its waters and premium beverages business into a 50:50 joint venture with Platinum Equity, as the group reported a 31.4 per cent fall in first-half net profit. Its Asia, Oceania and Africa zone, which includes Australia and New Zealand, delivered the strongest growth of its three geographic regions.

Gold Coast brewery, Black Hops, has entered administration for the second time, with an urgent sale campaign underway for the business.

In the final chapter of court action regarding the 2020 collapse of Freedom Foods Group, the Federal Court has found former managing director and CEO, Rory Macleod, breached his duties as a director and officer, and failed to take all reasonable steps to secure the company’s compliance with its financial reporting obligations.

De Bortoli Wines is restructuring its vineyard portfolio across four regions, removing underperforming blocks in the oversupplied Riverina while buying new land in the Yarra Valley and converting most of its King Valley plantings to Prosecco, Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese.

Ready-to-drink cocktail company, Curatif, has completed a crowd-sourced funding campaign of over $1.4 million through OnMarket, supported by 613 investors. The company is gearing up to launch overseas, with a fulfilment partner already in place to take its online model into the UK.