Leading wholesaler and distributor, Metcash, has awarded its top-performing supply partners of the past year at its 2025 Supplier of the Year Awards, with Mars Food Australia taking home the top award.
This year held at The Venue Alexandria on 8 May, the annual event provides an opportunity for Metcash to celebrate the unique achievements and success of its supply partners, acknowledging their strategic partnerships, passion, and continuous support of the independent retail network.
Metcash Food CEO, Grant Ramage, said the company was proud to be able to take the time to celebrate and reflect on another strong year of thriving partnerships and collaboration with its key supplier partners.
“All of our suppliers deserve to be recognised for the valuable roles that they play when it comes to supporting independent family-owned businesses to compete with the chains.
Congratulations to all our suppliers who have received awards this year, your support and collaboration with Metcash and independent retailers helps drive continued growth and success. We’d like to thank all our suppliers for their dedication and we’re looking forward to another great year of partnerships.”
The event was also an opportunity to give back to local communities, through the ongoing partnerships Metcash has with the Special Olympics, Humpty Dumpty Foundation, and McGrath Foundation.
“Thanks to the generosity of those who attended the Supplier of the Year event, we were able to donate $152,000 each to the Special Olympics, the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and the McGrath Foundation. These funds will allow them to continue to deliver the amazing work they do every single day,” said Ramage.
Source: Metcash
Mars Food Australia received the Supplier of the Year Award for 2025, with Mars Food sales director, Jen Gilbert, saying results are driven by a mutual and collaborative approach to sustainable growth, underpinned by the trust in the company’s partnership with the Metcash teams, groups and stores.
“It is an honour and a privilege to receive such recognition from Metcash, being named as their Overall Supplier of the Year 2025 and we couldn’t be prouder! At Mars Food & Nutrition we pride ourselves on being a purpose led business, striving for Better Food Today and a Better World Tomorrow,” said Gilbert.
“Our incredible partnership with Metcash plays a critical role in enabling us to achieve these goals, reaching all local communities with our great range of locally manufactured tasty accessible and healthy products through much loved brands like Masterfoods, Bens, and Dolmio. A huge thank you again to Metcash for their recognition of the Mars Food team and we look forward to an ongoing successful partnership in the future!”
19 category awards were presented on the night. The major winners include:
- Supplier of the Year: Mars Food Australia
- Produce Supplier of the Year: One Harvest
- Bakery Supplier of the Year: Allied Pinnacle
- Meat & Seafood Supplier of the Year: JBS Australia
- Delicatessen Supplier of the Year: Ingham’s Enterprises
- Sustainability Partner of the Year: Kellanova
- IMC Retail Media Campaign of the Year: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
- Private Label Launch of the Year: Baby Boo Nappies
- Integrated Supply Partner of the Year: Mars Food Australia
- Chilled Perishables Supplier of the Year: Real Dairy
- Freezer Supplier of the Year: McCain Foods
- Retail Excellence Partner of the Year: Colgate Palmolive
- Food Campbells and Convenience Supplier of the Year: Suntory Oceania
- Pantry Supplier of the Year 2025: Mars Food Australia
- Impulse Supplier of the Year: Stuart Alexander & Co
- Community Partner Award: Asahi Beverages and The Smith’s Snackfoods Company
- Everyday Needs Supplier of the Year: Real Petfood Co
- Health, Beauty & Baby Supplier of the Year: Unilever Australasia
- Tobacco Supplier of the Year: Phillip Morris Limited
