Australia’s supermarket and grocery sector generated over $139 billion in revenue in 2023, dominated by Woolworths Group and Coles Group. But industry expert, Chelsea Ford, says emerging brands are being forced to shut up shop due to a lack of funding, making it nearly impossible to compete with the growing dominance of private-label products.

With only 6.5 per cent of Australians eating their recommended daily serve of veggies, it’s fair to say that many consumers see fresh produce more as a chore – a bland, healthy box to tick – than something to enjoy. But Perfection Fresh says it is on a mission to change the game, turning vegetables into vibrant flavour sensations and making fresh food the most exciting thing on people’s plate.

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) is undertaking testing of an Australian-developed plant monitoring system in space, demonstrating a key technology capability for sustainable plant-based food production on Earth and amongst the stars.

The iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has launched a $2 million second round of funding through its Impact Extension Program (IEP) to accelerate transport innovation in Australia.

Despite decades of efforts ranging from diets and exercise to more comprehensive lifestyle changes, obesity remains a pressing public health issue. Mintel food science senior analyst, Yunn Lim, discusses how food and beverage companies can rethink their approach to nutrition in the “Ozempic era”.

The ACCC will not oppose Woolworths’ acquisition of ready meal company, Beak & Johnston (B&J). The commission found the deal would not disadvantage rival ready meal producers as there were other retailers and channels they could access.

Northern Beaches-based brewery, Freshwater Brewing Co., says it’s using its equity crowdfunding campaign on Birchal to sound the alarm on hardship in the industry.

The Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (ASDA), which celebrated its 10th year in 2024, has rebranded as the International Spirits Awards, and opened up entries to international distilleries for the first time in 2025. Entries are now open, and close on 16 May.

Junee’s Licorice and Chocolate Factory, located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, has undergone a $560,000 renovation of its historic facility to extend its chocolate production facility and make accessibility improvements, funded by the New South Wales government.

Australian FoodTech company, Nourish Ingredients, and its partner, Chinese company Cabio Biotech, have successfully completed a commercial production run of the plant-based fat, Tastilux, saying they are the first fat company to achieve commercial-scale validation with a low cost of production.

In an exclusive with our stablemate, PKN Packaging News, Australian-based Zipform Packaging revealed its groundbreaking development – a paper bottle made from over 95 per cent wood-based fibre, containing no plastic liner, and incorporating more than 50 per cent post-consumer recycled content. 

Hort Innovation has launched its latest initiative, Australian-Grown Innovation, developed in collaboration with Startupbootcamp and Cluster Connect, and funded through its Frontiers co-investment program.

Cultivated meat company, Vow Group, has taken the next step towards Australian market approval, with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) declaring the company’s cell-cultured quail meat safe to be used as a novel food ingredient.

Contemporary chocolatier, Koko Black, has acquired Melbourne-based Chocolatier Australia and its 5812 square metre production facility in Heidelberg West as the next stage in the company’s expansion.

Yowie Group says the recent tariff changes and a key customer significantly reducing its order means the company had to revise its FY25 forecast.

A food and beverage industry roundtable is being held tomorrow (8 April) in Alice Springs, bringing together freight and grocery stakeholder companies to discuss food pricing and insecurity in remote Australia.