Aspiring Victorian distillers now have the opportunity to attend a new National Distilling Institute pilot training program. The program is part of the $20 million Distillery Door Program, and focusses on distillation techniques and industry safety.

Australian hyper-fermentation company, Cauldron, has closed a $9.5 million Series A round, led by Horizons Ventures, with SOSV and In-Q-Tel (IQT) joining existing investor, Main Sequence. In 2023, it completed an over-subscribed seed funding round, raising $10.5 million.

Food fraud has serious food safety and reputational impact, with unscrupulous organisations finding more sophisticated ways of duping companies and consumers. Global Quality lead for industry consultancy Campden BRI, Richard Leathers, outlines how to successfully navigate such threats.

With a 60-year history along with changing hands and direction over the years, specialised blender and packer Janbak has demerged from Earlee Products to further grow its reputation. Kim Berry speaks to managing director Michael Hamilton.

Australians’ love for their spice racks is clear in a new study conducted by MasterFoods, which revealed Australian’s spend an average of 13 days of their lives organising their spice racks. The trend has also been gaining momentum on social media, showcasing customisations from alphabetised shelves to Insta-worthy labels. 

Who can resist a thorough round-up of packaging trends? Managing director of creative agency The Offices, Stephanie Oley, looks at how to tap into a trend without the pitfalls of falling for a fad.

Blue Dinosaur brand owner, Forbidden Foods, says a new deal with contract manufacturer, Edenvale Foods, to produce the brand will unlock “considerable growth opportunities” for the company. Blue Dinosaur is a range of health and wellness snack bars and protein water.

From more than 5500 entrants, seven have been selected as the Food Manufacturing Finalists of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards. 2024 marks the 26th consecutive year of the awards, with more entries received this year than any year prior.

Casting the net wide for innovative practical solutions to food loss and waste is the foundation for the country’s inaugural Food Waste Challenge. Open now, entries need to be solutions focused and applicants can apply across multiple sectors.

Pragmatic on-farm solutions to reduce emissions and improve efficiencies are the cornerstone of a new partnership by Synlait and Nestlé with farmer suppliers. The co-investment will be split between the three over the next seven years, helping Synlait reach its greenhouse gas emissions target while opening new commercial opportunities with Nestlé.

Stefan Di Benedetto’s story from working in construction to global plans for his limoncello and limoncello spritz brand, Solbevi, is one of fierce determination and tireless persistence. Kim Berry writes.

Nicol Strang from Woolworths Forest Lakes, Western Australia has been recognised as the Woolworths Baker of the Year for the second year in a row. Competing against Woolworths’ in-store bakers from across the country, Strang was selected as a stand out in his skill in crafting the perfect traditional hot cross bun.

Integra Foods, a subsidiary of Australian Grain Export (AGE), has launched its plant protein facility, located in AGE’s new $20 million vertically integrated precinct in Dublin, South Australia.

Endeavour Group has launched Australia’s only large-scale, natural cork stopper recycling program, ReCORK. In partnership with Amorim Cork and Save Our Soles, the ReCORK system will address recycling challenges posed by natural cork stoppers.

Gluten-free products have long suffered from a reputation of tasting like cardboard. Up for a challenge, Sydney-based Wholegreen Bakery teamed up with creative agency The Hallway to create the Cardboard Cake – gluten-free and most importantly, full of flavour.

The Arnott’s Group, Paco Industries and the University of New South Wales will collaborate on a research program to progress technologies in recycling, bio plastics and carbon capture, addressing plastic packaging challenges facing the food and beverage industry.