In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry is joined by Dominic Westendorf, the Regional and Agribusiness Banking Victoria GM for CommBank, and the CEO of Ferndale Foods Australia, Leigh Edward, to discuss the valuable role and benefits of regional food and beverage manufacturing. Leigh tells us about Ferndale Foods, and how its foundations are as much in Ballarat as in his family (Ferndale was founded by his father). He shares insights on the benefits of being regionally based, from cheaper industrial land enabling more capital for equipment and operations, to a local workfor ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry is joined by Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) CEO, Tanya Barden, to discuss the current state of play for Australia’s food and grocery sector. Tanya gives us an overview of the challenges faced by the industry with increased cost pressures, ageing assets, and a lack of investment. We discuss the role of government grants and tax incentives to invest in Australia’s production capabilities, and the lack of representation of the sector in the Future Made in Australia strategy. We explore the many inquiries underway in Austral ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, talks to Jed Simpfendorfer and Dr Ro Mueller from market research firm, Tgarage, about what Australian consumers are thinking and how that impacts food and beverage businesses. The discussion explores Tgarage’s most recent insights into consumer behaviours and the tension point between trying to reduce spending but still wanting moments of joy and ways to connect. Jed and Ro breakdown the unfolding shift from spending on entertainment and going out, to the premiumisation of supermarket goods and entertaining at home. Jed discusses t ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, talks to Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) CEO, Fiona Fleming, about the critical role of food science and Australia’s food and beverage industry. We start with an overview of AIFST, as a not-for-profit industry body with the goal to advance and inspire all food sector professionals through education, collaboration, and recognition to champion a robust, innovative science based Australian food industry to meet future food needs. The discussion reviews the major changes in food science, the valuable educatio ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, talks to the managing director at General Mills ANZ, Karen Jenkins. We start off taking a look at Karen’s career with the multinational food company, and her experience moving up through the ranks. We discuss the benefits of developing an understanding of all parts of the business, and the value in working in different countries while with the same company. Karen shares her experience of working in the UK during Covid and Brexit and what she learned from leading during a time of immense challenges and uncertainty. We talk about bein ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry talks to the CEO of Future Food Systems, Dr James Krahe. We discuss the concept of concept of clusters and ecosystems, their importance in the future of successful food systems and how Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre (FFS CRC) is fostering their creation. We then look at the three clusters/sectors in FFS’s remit, with projects in Coffs Harbour, NSW, Peel Region, WA, and Sunshine Coast, Qld, for an insight into the dynamic environments that they operate in. James shares his views on optimising portected cropping in Coff ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry talks to Roberto Carbone from Cucina Classica about his experience with food, from his family’s delis and own enterprises in restaurants and cafés to his ready meal business today. Roberto shares the experience and process of licensing one of his products – lasagne – with the feline movie star Garfield, the dramatic impact of Covid, the speed with which the company managed to pivot. Roberto shares his insights on the rise of ready meals and their appeal across most age groups plus some of the future trends he’s expecting to see. LINKS ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry is joined by Yume Food founder and CEO, Katy Barfield. The Yume tech platform integrates with food manufacturers’ systems, connecting them to other businesses to sell, buy, or donate surplus food. Katy shares the experience of starting the platform, an entirely new concept to the sector, and trying to get businesses on board. The realisation that existing processes to deal with surplus food were disorganised, ad hoc, and low down the priority scale meant Katy and the team knew they were in for a challenge. We also explore some of the ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry is joined by start-up Naked Rivals co-founder, Andrew Gordon. From the kernel of an idea to the relentless anxiety of bringing that idea to fruition, Andrew shares the highs and lows of launching Naked Rivals – a frozen citrus product range that upcycles ‘ugly fruit’ and provides cost-effective convenience year-round. We talk about the willingness of people in the industry to share their knowledge and experience, and the value that comes from those connections. Andrew takes us through the key steps of starting a business before we tur ..read more

In this episode, Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry is joined by Maria Christina, National Manager of Manufacturing & Wholesale Trade, Commonwealth Bank and the CEO of That’s Amore Cheese, Marco Alghisi, to discuss the current state of Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry. We hinge the discussion off CommBank’s latest Food & Beverage Manufacturing Insights Report, with Maria providing insights into manufacturers’ plans for productivity investments, improved efficiencies, and how they are navigating higher energy prices, inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis ..read more