Welcome to the latest issue of Food & Drink Business. As the end of the year approaches at a rate of knots, this edition reveals the sector is showing no signs of slowing down.
I am heading to Germany for Anuga 2025 (page 12) at the beginning of October, please reach out if you are going to be there. I had the privilege to be on the international jury this year to select the top innovations in the industry and the top 10 new products at Anuga 2025 from all the new products submitted. It has been an enriching undertaking in seeing the level of ingenuity and creativity in the sector worldwide. The results will be presented as part of the special Anuga Taste Innovation Show.
Anuga is the largest food and beverage trade fair in the world with 10 trade shows under one roof – I’m having trouble imagining the scale of that. I have all the anticipatory excitement the international flights, a foreign country and work goals trinity can manifest; it is going to be an amazing experience and wonderful opportunity.
Working in a foreign country is not without its challenges, and Keira Joyce’s interview with CJ Foods CEO, Eugene Cha-Navarro, shows how it can be done (page 14). The company’s localisation strategy is paying dividends in many ways.
CJ Foods is an example of approaching business differently and seeing benefits where others do not. Our cover story with Neogen tells a similar tale (page 21). The food safety solutions company has just produced the second edition of its environmental monitoring handbook – a massive undertaking, written with Cornell University and contributions from food safety experts around the world. That Neogen has made the handbook free of charge and available to all reflects the company’s goal to advance the industry from seeing food safety as a cost centre to one of opportunity to grow and ultimately benefit public health. Companies thinking big.
And speaking of big, I have recently had the privilege of attending the unveiling of two major infrastructure projects – Suntory’s Swanbank facility in Ipswich, Queensland (page 32) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partner’s new monster line for Monster Energy products (page 34). Both are impressive to say the least, but they are more than that. Here we have two global companies investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Australian infrastructure and operations. It sends a very tangible message of confidence and commitment to the local market. You don’t have to go too far or talk to many people to know how tough the market is at the moment; these builds are important on many levels.
And you can’t have food or beverage manufacturing plant without processing and packaging equipment and systems. Our feature on both these critical components starts on page 36. From the latest equipment (page 38) to its application (page 36) and innovation (page 40), we see the pace of change, advancement and tirelessness of a sector that never sleeps.
Our next issue – and final for 2025 – is the annual flagship Top 100 companies report. Another reflection on this dynamic industry.
