With just over a week to go until the Food & Drink Business + PKN LIVE: Brands Behaving Bravely breakfast forum, the full programme has been unveiled.

A new general manager has been appointed to Mars Wrigley Australia. Andrew Leakey will lead the business from its Melbourne headquarters, with responsibility for its manufacturing facilities in Asquith (NSW) and Ballarat (VIC).

The opening of GMP Pharmaceuticals' global headquarters yesterday in Sydney’s west marked the 25th anniversary of the company as well as its move into functional foods.

v2food, the collaboration of CSIRO, Main Sequence Ventures, and Competitive Foods Australia – the company behind Hungry Jack’s – officially launched in Sydney last night, highlighting to investors the plant-based meat start-up could be Australia’s next big export.

Sugar is in most food and drinks and it is time for the food and beverage industry to embrace this fact, own it, and demonstrate a genuine concern for people’s health, says Futureye managing director, Katherine Teh.

With more than 300 million middle-class consumers, China offers unique opportunities for Australian food and beverage manufacturers. Export consultant David Thomas provides five tips for companies looking to tap into the market.

Distributor of speciality chemicals and food ingredients IMCD has released its first sustainability report for the full year of 2018. It provides information on energy consumption, water use and emissions in a bid to “lift the veil” on its non-financial data.

Chemical engineers from the University of Queensland are finding ways to make low-fat snacks more appealing in texture, following the creation of a new method to analyse potato chips at the four stages of simulated eating.

A Coles store will be the first to trial sending zero waste to landfill, as it aims prevent the equivalent of six-and-a-half trolleys going into landfill each day.

Family-owned, independent supermarket operator Drakes Supermarkets has separated itself from wholesaler Metcash, going into competition with the supplier with the opening of its own $125 million distribution centre.

Fonterra has released its FY19 annual results, announcing a net loss after tax of $605 million. The company says it will refresh its strategy and changes to its operating model and management team.

Subscription-based meal kit Marley Spoon will receive around $8 million from Union Square Ventures and Woolworths Group, extending their current investments.

The ACCC will not oppose the proposed acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks’ Tasmanian-based cheese business by Saputo Dairy Australia. The regulator said it did not think the deal would substantially lessen competition.

WA-based Brownes Dairy is going national for the first time with a probiotic yoghurt pouch. Brownes is one of the brands featured at Food & Drink Business + PKN's annual LIVE event this October.

Coca-Cola Amatil has won the exclusive distribution licence of non-alcoholic beverages in 27 outlets at the new Bankwest Stadium in Sydney.

American whiskey Westward has entered a new agreement with Australian distributor Think Spirits to be its exclusive distribution partner in the country from 1 October.