Starward Whisky has returned to full Australian ownership, with founder David Vitale acquiring the brand and ending its decade-long involvement with Diageo’s Distill Ventures program.

Pure Foods Tasmania (PFT) has commenced contract manufacturing for Sydney-based smoked seafood producer Brilliant Food Australia, in a strategic step to increase utilisation at its Woodbridge Smokehouse facility in southern Tasmania.

Australia’s spirits excise has increased to $107.99 per litre of alcohol, in the first automatic tax rise of 2026, and renewing calls from peak bodies for reform of the country’s alcohol taxation system.

Noosa Chocolate Factory has appointed Marcus Raward as its new CEO, as the company prepares to enter its next phase of growth.

Sydney-based craft rum producer, Sydney Distilling Co Pty Ltd, trading as Brix Distillers, has entered voluntary administration, with Ben Carson and Richard Stone from RSM Australia Partners appointed as Joint and Several Voluntary Administrators on 21 January 2026.

Pure Wine Co has been appointed as the exclusive national mainland distributor for Tasmanian winery, Pipers Brook Vineyard. Effective from 1 March, Pure Wine Co will manage national mainland distribution and trade sales for Pipers Brook and its Kreglinger Sparkling, Pipers Tasmania and Ninth Island labels.

The fourth round of the federal government’s Traceability Grants Program is now open for applications, with funding from $50,000 to $500,000 available for projects modernising and enhancing agricultural traceability systems.

The rapid rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications is driving profound changes in consumer behaviour overseas – and Australia’s retail sector should prepare now. New data from Circana shows GLP-1 uptake has already reached meaningful scale in Australia, with 12 per cent of households reporting at least one member using a GLP-1 medication, as of September 2025.

The Hive Awards have officially launched for 2026. Created to recognise excellence in Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry and powered by Australia’s premier media platform for the sector, Food & Drink Business, entries are now open across nine categories.

Dairy goods producer, Summer Land Camels, is gearing up to expand into the US health and wellness market, supported by a crowdfunding campaign conducted via OnMarket.

Tasmanian whisky pioneer, Bill Lark, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List, recognising his extraordinary contribution to the Australian distilling industry and Tasmanian community.

Australia’s beverage market is being reshaped by powerful demographic and behavioural forces that will define demand for decades. At Suntory’s Rituals event in Sydney, demographer Bernard Salt and Suntory Global Spirits Global VP of Insights and Analytics, Jing Mertoglu, outlined a converging story – one that positions Australia and New Zealand as two of the most strategically attractive beverage markets in the developed world.

As pressure mounts on food manufacturers to substantiate sustainability claims with hard data, Wholegrain Milling has taken a deliberately forensic approach to one of world’s most ubiquitous foods: bread.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Growing Leaders program, a national leadership program for the horticulture sector, developed in consultation with the industry.

Endeavour Group reported flagging margin pressure and a decline in earnings on the prior corresponding period in its 1H26 results report but says improved retail sales momentum in 1H26 was largely due to increased investment in lower shelf prices.

International spirits company, Bacardi, has entered into a new distribution agreement with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in New Zealand, following the announcement of a similar arrangement in Australia last August.