The chief executive officer of the Australian Meat Industry Council is stepping down from his role on 1 November, after more than seven years. The organisation is currently looking for someone to fill the position.

The Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) first annual Research & Development Tax Incentive Transparency Report reveals $11.2 billion in expenditure was claimed in 2021/22. Tassal Group reported the seventh highest claim with its total R&D expenditure $55,821,520. The inaugural report looks at the 2021-22 income year and the data the business reported in its company tax return.

TasFoods says the decision by Coles to range its Pyengana Dairy Traditional cheddar cheese in 182 stores for the festive season was a “significant achievement” for the brand’s growth strategy, which is looking to improve revenue and profitability of the business unit.

Hectic work schedules of dual-income households and the increasing participation of women in the workforce across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) is reshaping consumer behaviour towards packaged baby food, according to data and analytics company, GlobalData’s, latest report.

The International Wine & Spirit Competition has announced its 48 trophy winners for 2024, with top Australian performers including Campbells Wines, Coward & Black, Dandelion Vineyards, Deep Woods Estate, Edenvale, and Naught Distilling.

New Zealand based goat milk formula brand, The LittleOak Company, has partnered with Australian Pharmaceutical Industries to expand access for Australian families.

Treasury Wine Estates says it has made significant progress on sustainability commitments set in 2021. The company expects to be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity by the end of 2024. 

Elixinol Wellness says its binding agreement to acquire Teresa Cutter’s health and wellness company, The Healthy Chef, will enhance revenue, margins, and EBITDA. The deal is worth up to $5.5 million with Cutter staying on as a consultant for three years.

The University of Queensland (UQ) is working to improve crop productivity and secure future food supplies with its new $65 million Plant Futures Facility. Fitted out with technology to finely control temperature, light intensity, light quality, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration, the space will allow researchers to study plant responses to future climates.

Lion has announced the winners for its annual trans-Tasman Supplier Recognition Awards, recognising the suppliers and lasting partnerships that keep the beverage giant up and running.

Another busy week for Australia’s food and beverage sector, kicking off with the launch of The Great Unwaste on Sunday and sliding towards a long weekend with the sizeable merger of the Original Juice Company, SPC Global, and Nature One Dairy. Let’s have a recap as well as a look at some overseas news.

The Tasmanian Beekeepers Association has launched a high-level marketing strategy for the state’s leatherwood honey industry. It provides a framework centred around brand, influence, communications, and information provision.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia has become a founding member of the Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) Alliance, which aims to increase women’s participation in skilled trades from three to 30 per cent by 2030.

The Seeding The Future Foundation and Institute of Food Technologists are creating a database for food innovation, through its Global Food System Challenge grants.

Charity organisation, Redkite, is partnering with Australian brands through Coles supermarkets, to help raise funds for children with cancer.

The Original Juice Company has entered a binding merger implementation deed and share sales agreement to acquire SPC Global and Nature One Dairy. OJC says the deal delivers “increased scale, diversification, significant operational synergies, and a platform for further growth”.