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Australia’s national science agency has proposed cutting up to 52 net roles from its Agriculture and Food division and exiting food ingredient innovation, precision fermentation, microbial technologies, and its national food innovation network – changes the food tech sector says leave a significant gap. Read more
Welcome to Food & Drink Business PLAY. Here are our top stories for March. It was a big month for deals, policy and industry shake-ups. Let's get into it.
Our Top 100 2025 edition of Food & Drink Business magazine is more than the annual flagship Top 100 Report. Industry leaders reflect on the year past and the one ahead, we provide our annual news review, M&A wrap-up, and all the executive moves, and a Roman-inspired sports drink, Posca, is our final Rising Star for 2025.
Food & Drink Business and IBISWorld present this year’s Top 100 companies, a ranking of Australia’s largest food and drink companies by revenue. This year reflects a sector positioning itself for immediate term viability and long-term competitiveness.
The federal government has decided to defer the phased transition to full cost recovery for export regulatory services for one year, established a new Fertiliser Supply Working Group, and brought forward $6.15 billion in concessional capital to support Australian businesses affected by global disruptions.
Pure Foods Tasmania has entered a binding agreement to acquire the assets of Brilliant Food Australia, a premium seafood brand. The $300,000 deal adds the brand to the Woodbridge Smokehouse stable and lifts PFT’s revenue base by approximately 24 per cent.
Knorr, Hellmann’s, Maille and Frank’s will sit under McCormick’s roof in a transaction that marks Unilever’s exit from food manufacturing and the second-largest food deal in history.
A potential combination of the world’s second and fifth largest spirits companies would create a $43.6 billion (US$30 billion) global player, second only to Diageo.
Fonterra Co-operative Group has completed the sale of Mainland Group to French dairy giant Lactalis, closing a divestment process that began in mid-2024 when the co-op announced a strategic shift to become a pure-play global B2B dairy provider.
The NZ$307 million sale of the Pŋkeno facility to Abbott is complete, delivering a material debt reduction for the Canterbury dairy processor – but significant refinancing pressures remain as the company pursues its Stabilise, Simplify, Scale recovery plan.
Automation & Robotics Technology has been acquired by a consortium of investors including Foodmach, Packaging Partners, Rob Niggl, and Frank Floriano, former CEO of Aldus.
From fibre-based formats to premium gift tins, a PKN store check reveals how Easter chocolate packaging is evolving across Australian supermarkets and speciality chocolatiers.
Reckitt is rolling out a 75% paper-based, kerbside recyclable pack, supplied by Mondi, for Finish dishwashing tablets in Australia, targeting a reduction in plastic use while maintaining product protection.
