Rare Foods Australia is the only wild enhanced abalone fishery in the world, and recently expanded into a new challenge – taking the plunge into ocean cellaring. Keira Joyce speaks with the project's general manager, Simon Hanley, about the subsea wine development.

The winners of the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards have been announced, attracting 2300 entries from over 450 wineries across Australia.

Automation systems company, Swisslog, has appointed Joseph Kutek as its newest food and beverage sales consultant. With a strong technical background, he aims to assist the industry in choosing the right automation solutions for their purposes.

A diversified channel mix and higher domestic retail prices offsetting “significant” farmgate milk prices were highlights for Noumi in 1Q25, while the macro-economic environment and consumers’ cautious spending provided ongoing challenges. 

The first Tasmanian spirit has landed in the US market, courtesy of Three Cuts Gin. Founded by American-born entrepreneur, Justin Turner, the company’s range has debuted in California, New York, Texas, and Nevada.

Forbidden Foods says its $3.42 million acquisition of Oat Milk Goodness in September has delivered immediate results, with the health and wellness food company recording a 44 per cent increase in sales in October, as well as cost savings and a stronger outlook.

The winners of the annual Product of the Year Awards have been announced, with Coles and Woolworths homebrand items dominating, taking out 23 of the 34 categories.

Following the statement from Steve Donohue in September, saying he is stepping down from his role as CEO and managing director of Endeavour Group, the company has announced several changes to its executive leadership team.

Plant-based drinks and alternative proteins have continued to grow in the food sector, and HRS Heat Exchangers is taking note – developing manufacturing solutions to make processing easier and more efficient.

Following the release of its 12-month Supermarket Inquiry interim report, and with hearings due to start this week, the ACCC has released the latest submissions from a range of industry bodies highlighting unaddressed concerns. One issue raised in multiple submissions, with strong input from the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC), was the impact of rising costs eroding industry profits and placing the food sector in a high-pressure situation.

Australia’s trade and tourism minister, Senator Don Farrell, and several other government officials descended on Treasury Wine Estates’ Shanghai office to discuss ways to build greater cooperation between Australian and Chinese wine industries. The visit comes six months after China lifted heavy tariffs it had imposed in 2020.

The largest meat processor in Australia, JBS Australia, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Beef City site, part of the country’s largest beef processing and feedlot operation.

Consumer intelligence company, NielsenIQ (NIQ), has released its Mid-Year Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2025 report, analysing the latest trends in consumer spending and catalysts for change across industries.

Western Australia has experienced a 400 per cent increase in export demand for its avocados year-on-year, with the 2023/24 season worth $36.8 million, up from $7.1 million in 2022/23. Growing demand in Asia and the Middle East has fuelled the increase.

Effective planning in food processing doesn’t have to be chaotic. The right digital tool will help food manufacturers bring order to their operations by calculating the cost for any number of decisions. Emile Bassil from Relex explains how bringing every team to the same source of data provides full visibility across the company.

Bubs Australia recorded $19.7 million in revenue for 1Q25, down 0.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period of $24.3 million. The company reconfirmed its FY25 guidance of $102 million net revenue, gross margin more than 40 per cent, and a break even EBITDA.