Mars Wrigley Australia has appointed Ben Hill as its new marketing director, and will be responsible for the growth of the company’s 17 brands, including Extra, Maltesers, Mars and Skittles.

Nestlé has reported its progress in helping end deforestation and restore its cocoa supply chain, mapping around 75 per cent of the 120,000 cocoa farms it sources from in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.

Australia’s only medical mask manufacturer, Med-Con, has had to step up production dramatically amid the Covid-19 crisis, and has contracted Foodmach to assist in expanding manufacturing capacity.

Frontline medical staff around the country will receive 20,000 litres of hand sanitiser as Carlton & United Breweries teams up with hygiene company Ecolab to produce the much needed product.

Industry bodies representing food and beverage industries across Asia are calling on governments to shore up the supply and distribution of goods.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has updated its COVID-19 information page and resources for food businesses. Food & Drink Business provides a range of links to additional industry resources.

Nestlé Australia has announced an extension to its partnership with food relief organisation Foodbank Australia, donating a minimum of $2 million in products over the next two months to Australians in need.

Pernod Ricard has announced an initiative pledging thousands of meals to hospitality workers impacted by COVID-19. The aim of Meals for Mates is to provide a meal to impacted hospitality works while helping keep takeaway and delivery industry open.

With indomitable spirit, Sallie Jones and Steve Ronalds decided to fight for their livelihood and community their own way. Premium dairy brand Gippsland Jersey is the result.

Consumer industry mergers and acquisitions in February topped $15.4 billion (US$9.13 billion), GlobalData's latest report said. Pepsico and Mondelez featured in the top five deals.

Unilever has announced a range of measures to support efforts in combatting COVID-19 to the value of just over $1 billion. CEO Alan Jope said: “As the world’s biggest soap company, we have a responsibility to help.”

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will retire AUSkey this Friday, 27 March, and is calling on businesses to make the switch to myGovID and authorisation service Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).

Food forum ministers have asked Food Standards Australia New Zealand to review its draft for pregnancy warning labels on alcohol, suggesting the proposed model could place an “unreasonable cost” on the industry.

National organic industry body Australian Organic is standing with the National Farmers’ Federation and calling on the government to recognise agriculture and the food supply chain to be deemed as an essential service, in response to COVID-19 measures.

Coles Group subsidiary Chef Fresh has been given the green light by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to acquire chilled ready meals manufacturer Jewel Fine Foods, which has been in voluntary administration since April 2019.

Diageo is pledging more than eight million bottles of sanitiser for front line healthcare workers globally, while Queensland rum producer Beenleigh Rum will also join the war against coronavirus by making ethanol to fuel sanitiser supply across the state.