Welcome to Food & Drink Business PLAY. Here are our top stories for February – from food safety and major retail scrutiny, to a big sustainability investment and a new global player backing an Australian beverage business.

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.

Food Frontier, Cellular Agriculture Australia merge

Alternative protein think tank Food Frontier and Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) have joined forces, with the goal to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging food production technologies in Australia.

National food supply chain assessment underway

As part of the development of a national food security strategy, the federal government has commissioned a food supply chain assessment. The decision was made during a meeting of the National Food Council on 23 March, focused on the impact of conflict in the Middle East on Australia’s food system.

Automation adoption: rethinking productivity in Australia

Australian supply chains are reaching a critical turning point, as persistent labour shortages collide with weak productivity growth and rising global volatility, forcing businesses to rethink how competitiveness and growth is achieved inside their operations. Dematic APAC CEO, Michael Jerogin, offers insights on automation integration for local businesses to maximise efficiency.

Allpress Coffee expands Australian production

New Zealand-based specialty coffee roaster, Allpress Coffee, is strengthening its global footprint, investing in new roasteries in Melbourne and London.

AFGC launches electrification guide

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has released a new Electrification Fact Sheet in partnership with EnergyLink Services, giving food and grocery manufacturers a practical framework for reducing emissions through electrification.

Summer Land Camels raises $700k

Camel dairy farm, Summer Land Camels, has completed its OnMarket crowd-sourced funding campaign – raising over $700,000 from 460 investors to support the company’s international expansion.

Packaging News

As pressure builds ahead of Friday’s Environment Ministers Meeting, the Australian Council of Recycling is again calling for urgent action on packaging reform, warning that without it Australia’s recycling system is at risk.

The AIP has outlined a refreshed strategic direction, positioning itself as a leading provider of technical education, training and industry guidance as packaging reform and sustainability pressures intensify.

Pact Group is navigating significant disruption to resin supply, as Middle East conflict and shipping constraints drive shortages, price spikes and rising costs across the packaging value chain.