The Hive Awards have officially launched for 2026. Created to recognise excellence in Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry and powered by Australia’s premier media platform for the sector, Food & Drink Business, entries are now open across nine categories.

Dairy goods producer, Summer Land Camels, is gearing up to expand into the US health and wellness market, supported by a crowdfunding campaign conducted via OnMarket.

Tasmanian whisky pioneer, Bill Lark, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List, recognising his extraordinary contribution to the Australian distilling industry and Tasmanian community.

Australia’s beverage market is being reshaped by powerful demographic and behavioural forces that will define demand for decades. At Suntory’s Rituals event in Sydney, demographer Bernard Salt and Suntory Global Spirits Global VP of Insights and Analytics, Jing Mertoglu, outlined a converging story – one that positions Australia and New Zealand as two of the most strategically attractive beverage markets in the developed world.

As pressure mounts on food manufacturers to substantiate sustainability claims with hard data, Wholegrain Milling has taken a deliberately forensic approach to one of world’s most ubiquitous foods: bread.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Growing Leaders program, a national leadership program for the horticulture sector, developed in consultation with the industry.

Endeavour Group reported flagging margin pressure and a decline in earnings on the prior corresponding period in its 1H26 results report but says improved retail sales momentum in 1H26 was largely due to increased investment in lower shelf prices.

International spirits company, Bacardi, has entered into a new distribution agreement with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in New Zealand, following the announcement of a similar arrangement in Australia last August.

Woolworths Group, Sea Forest, DIT AgTech, and Teys Australia have launched a multi-year collaboration to trial a methane-reducing feed supplement in Australian grass-fed cattle, in a move aimed at cutting emissions while improving productivity across the beef supply chain.

Fonterra is expanding its organic milk programme into New Zealand’s South Island for the first time, as it looks to build on the strong performance of the business and growing global demand for organic dairy products.

CSIRO has launched the latest round of its Innovate to Grow program, a free eight-week program to support small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop research-driven solutions focused on Farm and Food Technology.

Suntory has appointed Ashish Gandham as managing director for Suntory Global Spirits – Oceania, following the launch of the company’s $3 billion multi-beverage business in July 2025.

The federal government has established a new Trade Diversification Network, consisting of 40 peak industry bodies, as part of its $50 million Accessing New Markets Initiative. The member groups will work with government to support global diversification for exporters.

Leading contract manufacturer, Hitex Confectionery, has appointed Darren Butler as its new CEO, aiming to propel a new stage of expansion following two years of transformation.

Queensland’s not-for-profit container management organisation, Container Exchange (COEX), has appointed Trevor Evans as interim chief executive officer, as the government finalises its response to troubling inquiry.

New South Wales’ container deposit scheme, Return and Earn, has passed 15 billion containers returned, with the state's recyclers receiving more than $1.5 billion in refunds since the program began.