What is behind a “may contain” label? Romer Labs senior research scientist Adrian Rogers explains a new initiative to provide realistic risk assessment to enable scientifically informed decisions.

For agribusiness company AustChilli, 2020 started off full of promise. Sales were ahead of the 2019 corresponding period, there were new product launches in the pipeline and new opportunities seemingly lining up at the door. And then, COVID-19 arrived.

Unilever’s premium tea brand T2 has achieved B Corp accreditation, a certification focused on corporate, social and environmental responsibility to use business as a force for good.

The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF) and Earthwatch Australia have announced a $600,000 partnership to deliver a first-of-its-kind marine pollution and wetland management program in the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria.

Since its commitment to put generational sustainability at the centre of its transformation strategy launched in June last year, Coles says it has become the country’s most sustainable supermarket.

PepsiCo has appointed Wern-Yuen Tan as its CEO Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and China. Tan was previously CEO and president of Walmart China. He will start in the role on 15 June.  

To mark World Environment Day, Woolworths Group has released research results showing that amidst COVID-19 consumers are still making sustainable choices a priority, and outlines steps it is taking to pave the way to a greener future.

General Mills has sold two of its ready meals brands and licensed a third to ready meal specialists Beak & Johnston. Ready Chef and Pasta Master will be sold, and Latina’s chilled ready meals category will be licenced to Beak.

The risks posed by a changing climate are real, systemic and accelerating: business needs to report them. Eileen Hoggett and Adrian King from KPMG outline how businesses can improve the depth and focus of reporting.

A competition offering $50,000 in branding advice could be just the ticket for some companies reeling from the pandemic. Brand agency Taylor & Grace said its 50for50 competition was intended as a post COVID-19 boost.

Planet Protector Packaging founder Joanne Howarth’s moment of reckoning was when she felt like she was “single-handedly destroying the planet”. Now, with the warmth of wool, she’s doing the opposite.

The May/June issue of Food & Drink Business is out. It features our annual classified industry directory, a bumper 14-page processing & packaging tech update and loads of features on what's happening in the sector.

Murray River Organics has partnered with Coles to enter the $1 billion breakfast cereal category, with the consumer brand launch of a new range of organic mueslis in 800 stores nationwide. It is expected to raise $5 to $6 million in revenue per annum.

B2B beverages marketplace Kaddy has raised $3.5 million in funding, with the new funds aimed at helping the start-up enhance its platform capabilities, grow the team and expand interstate.

Woolworths will extend its dairy levy support for 12 months and introduce a new $5m fund to help with on-farm efficiency. Its existing dairy contribution payments on two- and three-litre own brand fresh milk varieties will be extended until June 2021.

A digital platform that connects local F&B producers with consumers has just been launched. Fair Foodie allows vendors to sign up, free of charge, and create their own personalised digital shopfront.