Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) has removed its CEO, Tanya Barden, effective immediately. The council’s chair, Anthony Holme, said it was a “mutually agreed separation”.AFGC chief operating officer (COO), Colm Maguire, has been appointed interim CEO.

Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing industry is at a crucial point. We need collaboration with government and constructive commercial relationships with our retail partners for food and grocery manufacturers to thrive. Tanya Barden, when CEO of the AFGC, provided this article on the year ahead.

The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) has appointed David Gall as Chief Executive Officer, a week after the first investments of the fund through the Industry Growth Program have been announced.

Oceanographer, chemist and entrepreneur, Emeritus Professor Tony Haymet, has been appointed Australia’s tenth Chief Scientist, effective 28 January. He replaces Dr Cathy Foley, who recently finished her four-year term.

Premium drinks brand, StrangeLove Beverage Co., has launched its first mainstream above the line (ATL) brand campaign with creative agency Today the Brave. The “Drinks for drinks’ sake” campaign is running in metro Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. 

A collaboration between Swinburne University of Technology and Ezy Chef is developing AI techniques to ensure the safety of texture modified food products.

The alternative dairy industry will be getting an all-environments boost, with researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) finding camel milk could potentially protect the gut from harmful enzymes and create healthier digestion.

Australian pasta brand, San Remo, is immersing itself in the digital age, with the appointment of online recipe content creator and entrepreneur, Leah Itsines, as its new brand ambassador.

With the excise on spirits (and beer) set to rise on 1 February, Diageo’s Bundaberg Rum is expanding its campaign to freeze the tax from Queensland into New South Wales.

Mountain Culture has taken home Australia’s #1 craft beer for the third year in a row, winning the annual GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers with its Status Quo Pale Ale. Nearly 1500 beers from 400 craft breweries were in the running.

Kerry Group says the divestment of its dairy business and the company focused exclusively on science backed taste and nutrition solutions drove recent changes in its senior executive.

After 23 years leading Cooper’s Brewery – Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery – Dr Tim Cooper says it’s time to retire as managing director. He will remain the chief brewer and a director, providing input on brewing and technical matters.

Melbourne’s Hawkers Beer and Sydney’s White Bay Brewery have come together as the founding brands of the freshly minted hospitality outfit, Social Drinks Group. The group starts officially trading on 1 February.

Australian sparkling wine house, Jansz Tasmania, part of Hill-Smith Family Estates, has appointed Teresa Heuzenroeder as its new Senior Sparkling Winemaker.

Korean food company CJ Foods Oceania’s brand, bibigo, is expanding into IGA supermarkets, with six products being stocked including two new dumpling varieties. Bibigo is now available in more than 70 per cent of grocery stores in Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating Woolworths’ proposed buy-out of ready meals company Beak & Johnston Holdings (City Kitchen) on competition, and access and expansion issues for the ready meals market.