The news in review: October

One in three Australian households is struggling to afford food. A major fresh produce supplier admits price fixing. And the ACCC has launched legal action over an alleged egg cartel. Welcome to Food and Drink Business PLAY, your monthly news review on Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.

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.

Indigenous Business Month rallies eight beverage businesses

The Beverage Reconciliation Industry Network Group (RING) has seen major beverage companies join forces to help First Nations businesses build connections with corporate procurement teams during Indigenous Business Month. The partners include: Asahi Beverages, Australian Venue Co., Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Coles Group, Diageo, Endeavour Group, LION and Suntory Oceania.

Murray Cod to be stocked in Woolies, Coles

Murray Cod Australia (MCA) reported a record 175.9 tonnes of fish sold in 1H27, lifting sales volume by 45.7 per cent. Net sales rose 34.2 per cent to $3.92 million, as it shifts away from using seafood distributors.

National membership launched to End Food Waste

End Food Waste Australia (EFWA) is moving away from its Food Pact program to launch End Food Waste Australia Membership. EFWA says it provides a more flexible model for organisations of any size.

Bubs revenue dips despite US gains

Net revenue for Bubs Australia fell 9.8 per cent to $23.1 million in Q1 FY27, with operating cash outflow widening to $6 million from $4.4 million on the prior corresponding period.

Going green without sacrificing profitability

Australian food processors are facing a growing commercial squeeze as major retail and foodservice customers want stronger environmental credentials from suppliers, while continuing to push hard on price. New modelling from the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) shows Australia’s red meat processing sector could achieve net zero emissions by 2045 without sacrificing profitability.

Perfection Fresh admits price fixing on ALDI veggies

Perfection Fresh has admitted to cartel conduct in supplying vegetables to ALDI and will jointly ask the Federal Court with the ACCC to impose a $12 million penalty. The NSW-based wholesaler is Australia’s second-largest fresh vegetable supplier.

Australians trade up on Shiraz

Circana retail scan data shows sales of bottles of shiraz under $10, fell 8.3 per cent over the past year, but sales above $35 grew 6.9 per cent. According to the data, shiraz accounts for two in every five dollars spent on bottled red wine in Australia, which covers the year to 4 October 2026.

Sullivans Cove reuses brandy casks for whisky

Sullivans Cove Distillery has turned casks left over from its brandy production into a new single malt release, Double Cask Batch Nº DC0127, priced at $250.

How age impacts purchasing behaviour

With six generations of consumers shopping side by side for the first time, poor product quality registered as the biggest frustration across the board, with 47 per cent saying they were most annoyed when food spoils too quickly or doesn’t last. The finding comes from the latest report by UK-based product intelligence platform, Vypr into Australian consumers, Six Generations, One Shelf.

Packaging News

APCO has appointed Sarah Cook as its next CEO, bringing experience in packaging investment, recycling technology and business transformation to the role. She succeeds Chris Foley who departs the organisation at the end of November.

Australia’s plastics recyclers have taken their fight over the Federal Government’s packaging reform backflip to a national TV audience, with iQRenew and ACOR telling Nine’s 60 Minutes that cost of living is no excuse.

Michael Dudley has been appointed group chief executive officer of Big Bag Recovery (BBR) and Circular Communities Australia (CCA).