PKN+Food & Drink Business LIVE

LIVE returns to Melbourne in October

The Food & Drink Business + PKN LIVE breakfast forum returns to Melbourne on 11 October. With experts from the food, beverage and packaging industries taking the stage, expect insights and revelations about what it takes to be a truly brave brand. We’ll explore emerging opportunities that enable brands to connect more deeply with their tribe in both the digital and real world realms. We have also planned a ‘surprise and delight’ reveal for the day.

Speakers, panellists and delegates will include Teresa Cutter (The Healthy Chef), Natalie Moubarak (+Hemp), Nicole Ohm (Brownes Dairy), Michael McNulty (Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Breeze) and Cameron Prowse (Alternative Meat Co).

Our keynote speaker is Nikki Moeschinger, managing director of Brand Opus. She will provide a framework to create brands capable of affecting consumer behaviour, as well as explore how the pressure to deliver short-term results is leading to damaging, unsustainable, price-driven promotional activity that’s eroding the only defence we have against the rise of private label in the Australian retail landscape.

Also speaking is Matthew Hurle, co-founder of brand activation start-up Brandcrush. Hurle will give insight into what’s driving the brand activation phenomenon and demonstrate how Brandcrush works with brands and activation partners/hosts to facilitate product sampling and experiential marketing with a difference.

Chris Gray, managing director of The Daylight Agency, will reveal the key factors that make a brand brave in the eyes of consumers, while shining a spotlight on specific brands that have done just this.

The event, which includes a full sit-down breakfast, will take place at the Arts Centre, Melbourne CBD, from 7.30am – 11.00am on 11 October.

Tickets are available from www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/live.

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February

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March

Foodex Japan is the premier food and beverage exhibition in Japan, attracting more than 3000 exhibiting brands and visitors from over 80 countries.

AAHAR is India’s largest and oldest food and beverage trade show, with 2026 marking the 40th edition of the event. It will feature over 1700 exhibitors across the food and beverage sectors, including an Australia pavilion, hosted by Austrade.

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April

One of the Asia-Pacific region’s most influential food-industry events is returning to China for 2026, with the 12th edition of the Food and Beverage Innovation Forum to be held from 27-29 April at Hangzhou International Expo Center.

May

Food & Drink Business presents The Hive Awards, an annual celebration of innovation and excellence in the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector.

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June

Australian Food Science and Technology Week will take place from 1-7 June 2026, aiming to raise awareness of food science and technology and highlight the vital role food scientists and technologists play in shaping a safe, sustainable, and innovative agrifood future.