Rate rise squeezes food manufacturers

Charter Hall Group’s $1 billion Light Horse Logistics Hub at Eastern Creek is now 100% leased, cementing the 180,000sqm industrial estate’s position as a major food logistics hub.

Woolworths’ new chilled and fresh food distribution hub in Western Sydney hits a major milestone, with 800 new roles being recruited for the Southern Hemisphere's biggest refrigerated distribution centre.

Bega Group has taken its Dairy Farmers brand into ready-to-drink meal replacement and added creatine and collagen to its protein smoothie range, as consumer research shows snacks displacing sit-down meals.

Adelaide brewer, Coopers Brewery, recorded its third year of volume growth in FY26, lifting keg sales by 7.4 per cent and reporting a 6.2 per cent profit before tax increase to $23.9 million.

The Australian Tax Office has confirmed Australia’s illicit alcohol market is continuing to grow, with the alcohol tax gap rising to $1.23 billion, more than doubled since 2015–16.

Contract brewer, Tribe Breweries, has acquired Gold Coast craft brewer Black Hops out of voluntary administration. The price has not been disclosed, but Tribe says all Queensland roles and 90 per cent of jobs nationally to be retained.

Euromonitor International’s top consumer trends for 2027 put consistency, availability and provable claims at the centre of what shoppers will pay for. No longer judging value on price alone, consumers want to know whether the product they buy today will still be on shelf, taste the same and cost what they expect next month.