Every week, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry brings you the latest news in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. This week: Coles, Woolworths, ACCC, Bubs Australia, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Bel Groupe, Bel Brands Australia, Sanitarium, Nestlé, JBS Australia, and National Reconstruction Fund. 

Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, talks to the CEO of Future Food Systems, Dr James Krahe, about the concept of clusters and ecosystems, their importance in the future of successful food systems and how Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre is fostering their creation.

Welcome to our penultimate print edition of 2024. The next edition is our flagship Australia’s Top 100 Food & Drink Companies report in December. The bottle of Lion's latest ultra low carb beer on the cover is a slight deviation from our normal cover models of processing equipment, packaging materials, and ingredients, but it provides the launch pad into how breweries are combatting a declining consumption rate.

Future Food Systems has released the first line-up of speakers for For Food’s Sake. With conversations ranging from circular economy to strengthening local economies, the summit is on 27-28 February 2025 at the Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour.

Welcome to The Food & Drink Business Top 100 Food & Drink Companies 2023 report. Compiled in collaboration with IBISWorld, this flagship report ranks by revenue Australia’s biggest players in the food and drink sector. Who made it into the Top 10, which companies rose in the ranks with impressive revenue growth, and which ones fell – it’s a fascinating informative glimpse into Australia’s largest manufacturing sector.

Trade Minister visits Treasury Wines in Shanghai

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.

Sanitarium gets all-clear for Vita Brits acquisition

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has reached an early decision on the proposed merger of Sanitarium’s Weet-Bix and Nestlé’s Uncle Tobys Vita Brits, stating that it will not oppose the acquisition.

ACCC releases new submissions as inquiry continues

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.

WA avocado exports up 400 per cent

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.

Processing solutions for plant-based foodstuffs

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.

Consumer trends revealed by NIQ

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.

Packaging News

AIP's seventh State of Industry webinar on 6 November focused on the future of soft plastics recycling in Australia, and provided updates on the progress of the industry-led soft plastics recycling scheme.

Pack Expo International 2024, the largest packaging and processing event in the world this year, has been a resounding success. PKN was walking the aisles and spotting innovation to bring you this snapshot.

A $22.2 million can line upgrade at CCEP Australia's Richlands facility is complete, and construction is now underway on an additional can line, backed by a further multi-year $75 million investment.