Foodpreneurs Festival

With the goal of helpings SMEs scale and stimulate interest in the speciality food sector, the inaugural Foodpreneurs Festival is being held at the Sydney StartUp Hub on 19 May.

There will be expert talks and panel discussions, facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities, and the prospect of brand owners to access a year’s worth of sales opportunities in one day.

On the main stage will be 20 of Australia’s most accomplished speakers including growth and innovation experts and founders from significant brands, including GymBod, Pure Pops, and Coco & Lucas. 

The speaker program will offer insights on: 

  • Winning buyers over in a competitive market;
  • how to survive working with ‘the majors’ where margins are ruthless;
  • why foodpreneurs don’t make money and what to do about it; and
  • what the future of retailing looks like for food and drink brands.

Speakers include:

  • Dave McAuley – Care Food Co
  • Craig Rochat – Land of Plenty Food Wholesaler and Brand Owner
  • Matthew Jinks – Random Harvest Gourmet Hampers
  • Nicky Jackson – RangeMe Product Discovery, Sourcing, and Purchasing Platform
  • Diem Fuggersburger – Berger Ingredients & Coco and Lucas
  • Becky Mead – Play Innovation Consumer Insights
  • Celia Harding – PR Shed
  • Cian Dawson & Courtney Brown – GymBod Better Option Desserts
  • Alice Storey & Georgina Larby – Pure Pops Natural Ice Pops
  • Sally Gosper – Two Providores Wholesale Food Distributor

 The ‘Express Lane’ will see a curated line-up of industry experts provide bespoke advice and guidance on start-ups’ product, plan, and potential.

There will also be a speed pitching program, ‘Pitch Hub’, where brand owners will be able to take their shot at landing on the shelves of more than 78 stockists that will be represented at the festival by some of Australia’s biggest retailers such as David Jones and IGA Supermarkets.

Tickets: $149 
Foodpreneurs Festival Eventbrite Page

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April

The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) and T garage bring you some of the industry’s most experienced and engaged thought leaders to explore how innovation is reshaping the Fast- Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector.

With a line-up of leading global suppliers, industry professionals can anticipate a showcase of trending food & beverage products and solutions, cutting-edge technologies for manufacturing, and more.

May

Tasting Australia presented by Journey Beyond is one of the country’s longest running eating and drinking festivals – a celebration and collaboration of people, produce and place. It returns in 2025 from 2–11 May, with more than 150 events planned across South Australia.

The Ai Group Confectionery Sector’s premier annual event for the Australasian confectionery industry, ConTech 2025, will be held at the MCG on Tuesday 6 May.

For nearly 40 years, PLMA’s annual World of Private Label International Trade Show has brought retailers together with manufacturers. Products on display will include fresh, frozen and refrigerated foods, dry grocery, and beverages as well as non-food categories, including cosmetics, health and beauty, household and kitchen, auto aftercare, garden, housewares and DIY.

The highly anticipated 9th edition of Future Food Asia returns from May 20th to 22nd, 2025. With the theme “Where Innovation Meets Growth,” this year’s event promises to be one you won’t want to miss.

Top industry leaders and pioneering innovators will come together at the 2025 Workplace Health & Safety Show, taking place in Melbourne.

Asia’s premier health and nutrition exhibition, China International Health & Nutrition Expo (NHNE), is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, taking place 21-23 May at the China Import & Export Fair in Guangzhou, China.

The Workplace Health & Safety Show is Australia’s premier event for champions of safety at work, connecting professionals with the latest solutions, technologies, and expertise to maintain a safe, healthy and productive workforce.

Australia’s leading business expo for natural and healthy products, Naturally Good, is returning on 26-27 May at the Sydney International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour. Visitor registrations are now open.