As the food industry landscape transforms, food distributors confront the formidable task of meeting consumer demands in an ever-changing terrain. Infor senior vice president and general manager Asia-Pacific and Japan, Terry Smagh, discusses how distributors can overcome these challenges, seize opportunities and meet consumer demands amidst difficulties. 

The Calabria Family Wine Group has entered into a distribution partnership with Australia’s Ponting Wines, effective from 1 October.

Agribusiness banking specialist, Rabobank, has released its Global Beef Quarterly report, revealing a stronger than expected first half of 2024 in global beef markets – with record production, export and import volumes in certain key countries.

Saputo Dairy Australia (SDA) has announced the retirement of its King Island Dairy brand, after being unable to find a buyer for the 132-year-old brand and its current facility.

The New South Wales government’s Return and Earn scheme has reached a milestone – recording 12 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned through the network since the scheme began, and resulting in $1.2 billion in container refunds back in people’s pockets.

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Murdoch University have established the Bioplastics Innovation Hub, an $8 million initiative focused on developing 100 per cent compostable plastics.

Commonwealth Bank’s Manufacturing Insights Report* reveals that almost nine in 10 food and beverage manufacturers and distributors plan to increase technology investment this year. In this third instalment of its Smart Business series, CommBank profiles Bickford’s Australia and how it has integrated technology into its operations.

Nestlé and Coles are partnering with the Australian Red Cross to promote emergency preparedness for individuals and communities – providing the skills, resources and knowledge Australians need to prepare effectively for emergencies.

Fonterra is investing $150 million into construction of a new Ultra High Temperature processing (UHT) cream plant at its Edendale site in Southland to meet growing demand through its Foodservice business in Asia.

Rabobank has released its latest Global Dairy Quarterly report, showing that Australia’s milk production continues to recover, as global supply is forecast to grow at a modest rate in the coming year.

Alcohol recovery beverage, Dodge, has landed a distribution partnership with Amber Beverage Group, aiming to fill the market gap of recovery drinks that assist in preventing the negative effects of alcohol.

Surplus food marketplace app, Too Good To Go, is launching in Melbourne, its first availability in Australia. It aims to help households and businesses halve Australia’s annual food waste by 2030, in line with the National Food Waste Strategy.

Australian sustainability start-up, Food Recycle, is validating its technologies to turn commercial food waste into animal feed, with its recent Jade Perch and aquaponics trial in collaboration with CSIRO.

McKenzie’s Foods has partnered with leading food and beverage packaging and processing company, Tetra Pak, to release a new range of pulses packaged in Tetra Recart.

National Packaging Targets and businesses seeking sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic are driving demand for locally produced food packaging such as foil trays. Australia’s only foil tray manufacturer, Confoil, outlines the benefits such a switch can bring. 

Coles Group has released its annual Sustainability Report, which highlighted the company’s efforts in combating food insecurity and investment in renewable energy solutions.