Maxwell Wines says its acquisition of the McLaren Vale wine producer, Fox Creek Wines, is aimed at safeguarding the legacy of the region’s wine heritage. The winery says it will preserve the brand’s integrity while breathing life into its operations.

Australian Distillers has appointed Kylie Lethbridge as its new general manager. She will start in the role on 27 October. Her most recent role was CEO of the Independent Brewers Association.

Australian plant-based meat company, v2food, has acquired the largest US brand for unbreaded plant chicken, Daring Foods, and announced a partnership with Japanese food science giant Ajinomoto Co. Inc., as it signals a new platform for growth.

With beverage company, Lion, releasing the latest flavour for its Japanese-style ready-to-drink, Kirin Hyoketsu, Food & Drink Business spoke with Lion director of RTD and Spirits, Albertus Lombard, to discuss the company's portfolio and recent market trends.

As consumers lean towards functional food and beverages, the sports and energy drink market is leading the charge. Market research company, IMARC Group, has released its Australia Sports and Energy Drinks Market report for 2024, outlining current trends and expected growth over the next decade.

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) ANZ Produce Executive Program (PEP), a leadership and business development program for the fresh produce industry, will make its New Zealand debut from 17-22 August.

Thomas Foods International has moved from two shifts to one extended single shift at its Lobethal processing facility, due to drought and lower livestock supply. The company said it was a “difficult but necessary decision”, given current market conditions.

One of the country’s biggest owners of pubs, bars and hotels, Australian Venue Co, has attracted a new private equity partner to support its next stage of growth.

Annual food price inflation eased to 3 per cent in the June quarter, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), down from 3.2 per cent in the March quarter. Meanwhile, egg prices continue to soar.

Australia’s largest egg company, Sunny Queen Australia, has been inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame for its commitment to innovation and reputation as the leading Australian producer, marketer and distributor of egg products for over 50 years.

Sydney craft breweries, Wayward Brewing Company and Akasha Brewing Company, have been acquired by Powder Monkey Group, an independent hospitality collective with operations across the UK and Australia.

T garage Insights and Strategy and The Brand Power Company have signed an agreement for its AI-powered innovation platform, InsightIQ, to be rolled out internationally through Brand Power’s hometesterclub.com global review platform.

Australia’s premier conference on alternative proteins, AltProteins 25, has released its program for the event, which will be taking place in Sydney for the first time, on 14 October. Organiser, Food Frontier, says it is embracing a “provocative new format”.

Australian ag-tech company, MEQ, has achieved US Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification for its MEQ Camera V2 Technology for accurately and precisely measuring the yield and quality of beef.

From outright abstinence to Dry January and the rise of no-alcohol products, moderation is reshaping the global beverage alcohol landscape. The latest research from beverage alcohol data and insights leader, IWSR, looks at the complex and ever-changing trend variations among different age groups and markets.

Australian wine consumption is undergoing a significant transformation, according to the inaugural State of the Grapes report, a collaboration between Wine Australia and Endeavour Group. The new data uncovers large scale shifts in the nation’s palates, giving insight into what the wine shelves of the future could look like.