The winners of the 2025 Hive Awards have been recognised and celebrated as some of Australia's most innovative food and beverage manufacturers over the past year. The awards were presented on Thursday 8 May during a long lunch at Linseed House, Sydney, to a room of over 150 industry leaders abuzz with excitement.
Editor Kim Berry acted as emcee, keeping the room feeling as bright as the afternoon sunshine as the event kicked off.
Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) director and Hive Awards judge, Dr Chris Downs, gave the crowd a lot to think about with his opening presentation on the future of food. He brought up many hot topics of discussion in the industry over the past year, including the impact of introducing advanced technology, like precision fermentation, into manufacturing, and the effect the rising popularity of GLP-1 drugs might have on food trends.
The awards presentation got started on a high note with a double win from the Gamechanger category – the judges had decided the exceptional scope of the finalists was such that one winner wasn’t enough. Joint winners Gina’s Table and TomKat Koolpak set the tone for the rest of the day, with calls to prioritise sustainability throughout the food supply chain by reducing food and packaging waste. Actions speak louder than words – and industry leaders like these two recipients are throwing their weight behind both.
The first half of the afternoon kept up the call for sustainability, with Best Ingredient winner, Aquafab, receiving the award for its novel approach to replicating egg whites in cocktails, an issue that tackles food waste and inclusivity in the hospitality space through its vegan-friendly and allergen-free product.
The Hive Award for Excellence in Value Innovation went to Hirsch Wine Group, a company that is supporting local industry through its vertically integrated winemaking model. From starting out with a run-down chicken farm to reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and enhancing product quality for wineries across the Yarra Valley region, Hirsch is making an impact on Australian industry.
In a time of geopolitical uncertainty, local manufacturing has remained key, but battling skill shortages and rising costs has been difficult for many companies. Treasury Wine Estates is bucking the trend, receiving the Best Technology award for its world-first automated barrel management system.
The importance of supporting local industry remained a strong thread throughout the second half of the afternoon, with Best Packaging winner, Chobani Australia, making sure to shout-out all its homegrown suppliers and designers.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners embodied the essence of the Outstanding Business Achievement award after a spectacular year of spotlighting innovation and sustainability, saying the message they wanted to send out was: “We are not complacent. We always strive to be better – 1 per cent better everyday, as our MD likes to say.”
The Local Manufacturing award went to Packserv, a company propping up the industry by designing and building high-speed fillers, pneumatic machinery, and modular packaging systems, all locally manufactured and serviced. The company pointed out its hopes for a resurgence in onshore manufacturing following the recent election, considering the previous Labour government’s Future Made in Australia program.
Elato Ice Cream was our 2025 Rising Star, championing the support of small, emerging businesses in a tough industry and economy. The company highlighted the importance of healthy options, and staying true to good quality ingredients and manufacturing.
In a year that already means a lot to Food & Drink Business’ company, Yaffa Media, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, it was incredible to have another family business get the chance to shine for its hard work and strong values. Gina’s Table received its second prize of the day, the Golden Hive Award, selected from the pool of winners by our editorial team as a particular standout. The announcement was met with riotous applause throughout the room, and we at Food & Drink Business were pleased to close out our second year of the Hive Awards with a group pic of our winners.
A huge congratulations to all of our finalists, it was so tough to narrow it down to that select pool, and even more difficult to pick our winners. Make sure to check them all out and show them some love!
And a massive thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Commonwealth Bank, Gold Sponsors RMR Process and Turbine, Silver Sponsors Hawkins Watts Australia and Heat and Control, Bronze Sponsors Janbak, Plasdene Glass-Pak, and Process Partners, and industry partner APPMA (Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association), without which this event would not have been possible.
