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Maggie Beer Holdings has received a non-binding offer to sell its Hampers and Gifts Australia business to an unnamed multinational buyer – at a fraction of the price it paid five years ago. Read more
The winners of the 2026 Hive Awards have been recognised and celebrated as some of Australia's most innovative food and beverage manufacturers over the past year. The awards were presented on Thursday 21 May during a long lunch at Linseed House, Sydney, to a room of over 100 industry leaders abuzz with excitement.
Welcome to PLAY, Food & Drink Business’ monthly wrap of the biggest stories shaping Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector. This month saw major acquisitions, executive shake-ups, industry awards, fresh questions over Australia’s research capability, and continued pressure on balance sheets across the sector. Let’s get into it.
Welcome to the latest issue of Food & Drink Business, the first quarterly issue for 2026. We have an extensive look at the trends in driving consumer behaviour and the opportunities they create for manufacturers. Our cover story is on the partnership between Process Partners and Bulla to deliver a world-class ice cream plant. And there is so much more.
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.
Roma Food Products CEO, Sam Schachna, is stepping down from the role after leading the company for more than six years. The business will continue operating under managing director, Max Buontempo.
Treasury Wine Estates has unveiled TWE Ascent, a multi-year transformation program that will more than halve its brand portfolio, exit commercial wine segments and consolidate investment behind Penfolds, DAOU and Matua as its global ‘Power Brands’.
Western Australian produce companies, Fruitico Pty Ltd and Fresh Express Produce Pty Ltd, have each paid the maximum penalty of $99,000 for alleged breaches of the Horticulture Code – which the federal government recently initiated an independent review for after almost a decade without update.
The federal government has invested an additional $55.8 million through the 2026 budget to address border and biosecurity threats from illegal foreign fishing in Australia’s northern waters.
Poultry and food producer, TasFoods, and its subsidiaries – including Nichols Poultry – have been acquired by RAMP Tasmania Poultry. The sale ensures the continued local operation of TasFoods and the employment of all Tasmanian staff.
Lion has proposed to move production of James Boag beers out of Tasmania, with a plan announced to close the James Boag’s Brewery in Launceston in November, driven by long-term decline in the national beer market.
The federal government has released its formal response to the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices, rejecting calls for forced divestiture powers while advancing a suite of supplier protections, pricing regulations and competition reforms.
Australian packaging innovation is up for global recognition at the 2026 Sustainability Awards, with Heliograf and Vert Design's compostable soy sauce fish shortlisted in the Renewables category.
Mondelez International has marked the 50th anniversary of its Scoresby confectionery factory with an $8m investment in packaging technology to support future growth and manufacturing capability.
A reusable milk keg system that has eliminated millions of plastic bottles has taken out top honours in the inaugural Unpackit Awards, while a controversial plastic-and-aluminium iced drink container has been named Australia's worst packaging.
