Welcome to the September edition of PLAY, your monthly wrap-up of the biggest stories shaping Australia's food and beverage manufacturing industry. This month it is wine restructuring in public, a court fight between a listed company and its former chair, capital going into protein, and a world title. Let's get into it.

Food & Drink Business’ latest print issue is hitting desks, bringing readers up to speed with the innovations, partnerships and industry achievements shaping the Australian industry.

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.

Top 100 2025: Inside the list

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.

Gas reservation bill tabled, manufacturers the focus

The Federal Government has introduced legislation requiring LNG exporters to supply the equivalent of 20 per cent of exports to the domestic market, a scheme food and grocery manufacturers have lobbied for.

CCEP Kewdale $40m upgrade lifts output by 40%

CCEP has completed a $39.7m manufacturing upgrade at its Kewdale facility in WA, installing a high-speed can production line that increases capacity by more than 40% and lifts production speeds to 1500 cans per minute.

Six in 10 manufacturers report falling productivity

Nearly 6 in 10 Aussies in food and beverage manufacturing believe their organisation is becoming less productive, despite continued investment in workplace technology, according to Argon & Co.

AFGC: Investing in food and groceries manufacturing matters

Every food, drink, personal care and household product made in Australia starts with an investment decision. A company chooses to replace a production line, automate a process or expand a plant. That choice is now made in a global market for capital, and Australia is struggling to compete. The question is simple. Will the next generation of manufacturing investment come here?

CCEP Austraila MD steps down

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia MD, Orlando Rodriguez, is stepping down in early 2027. Miles Karemacher has been appointed as his replacement and will start in the role on 18 January 2027.

TWE cuts emissions, increases water and energy intensity

Treasury Wine Estates has cut its operational emissions by 65 per cent since 2021, but its 2026 sustainability report shows the shift to smaller-batch luxury wine is eroding efficiency, and its $100 million climate adaptation target is now under review.

Packaging News

Orora has celebrated 50 years of operation at its Revesby site, recognising generations of local manufacturing, skilled employment and support for Australia’s beverage supply chain.

Phil Biggs has been elected chair of the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association, succeeding Rob Marguccio, with Rosanne Jessop and Mark Emmett continuing in their roles.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has completed a $39.7 million manufacturing upgrade at its Kewdale facility in Western Australia, installing a high-speed can production line that increases capacity by more than 40 per cent and lifts production speeds to 1500 cans per minute.