Page 5 - Food&Drink magazine November-December 2022

1LION ANNOUNCES
NEW CEO
Diageo’s president
of Asia Pacific and Global Travel, Sam Fischer, was announced as the new CEO of Lion
Group at the beginning of the year. Fischer formally moved into the role in July, when Stuart Irvine stepped down after nine years at the helm.
Lion chair Sir Rod Eddington said it was Fischer’s 30 years of global leadership experience, deep expertise in alcohol beverages and FMCG businesses, and strong track record in driving business growth that secured him the role.
2WOOLIES UPDATES SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS
On the release of its latest sustainability report, Woolworths Group said it had made significant inroads on some goals, revised, and added others. With the group almost at the halfway point of its Sustainability 2025 Plan, the company said the majority of its formed commitments remained relevant, while updates would be made to better reflect the current operating environment.
3THE HARD SELTZER XXXX HUSTLE
Lion announced a $5 million expansion to the XXXX Brewery in Queensland to allow for large scale production of hard seltzers and other ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages.
The move to add hard seltzers and RTDs to the iconic site
reflects the changing channel mix in the alcohol market. Research firm IRI said the Australian hard seltzer market grew 282 per cent in 2021 to become a $210 million category. It now accounts for 16 per cent of the light RTD category.
XXXX sales director Patrick Donohue said Lion would produce its seltzer brands at the site, including domestic production of White Claw.
4
Youfoodz’ new 13,700 square metre facility in Berrinba, Queensland, was completed in October, bringing all three of its production sites as well as marketing, administration, and distribution together. The site will see production grow from 160 tonnes to 550 tonnes a week.
Australia. The company said while no products in Australia tested positive for the bacteria it was taking the situation “extremely seriously”.
6
conversation with
Food & Drink
Business editor
Kim Berry,
Coca-Cola
Europacific Partners (CCEP) vice president and general manager of Australia, Pacific and Indonesia, Peter West, reflected on the first anniversary of Coca-Cola Amatil being acquired by the multinational.
The level of Covid disruptions and supply chain challenges were not what West had anticipated but the transition “went brilliantly”.
greenfield site sits next to the company’s existing 10,000 square metre City Kitchen factory in Western Sydney. CEO Ray Hanly said the expansion would deliver the trifecta
of additional capacity, new product ranges, and more jobs.
8
In February, organic dried fruit manufacturer Murray River Organics went into voluntary administration. Chair Andrew Monk told shareholders, “The past
year did not go to plan, delivering a number of disappointments across
our farms as well as delays to our high margin new branded products rollout.”
9
three of its products into the New Zealand market through retailer Countdown, saying it was a major opportunity for the business. Greek yoghurt is the second largest segment in the New Zealand yoghurt category, and is fast catching up to leading, more traditional yoghurt options.
10
US based Blue Diamond Growers from when the company was Freedom Foods Group (FFG) was resolved in US Arbitration, with FFG/noumi agreeing to pay Blue Diamond US$35 million. The issue related to the licensing agreement for FFG to manufacture and distribution Almond Breeze products in Australia. ✷
YOUFOODZ BUILD
The construction of
57
CHOBANI INTO NZ
Chobani Australia launched
UNWELCOME B&J MAJOR
EXPANSION
CCEP 1-ON-1
In an exclusive
MURRAY RIVER
ORGANICS INTO VA
SURPRISE
Reported cases of salmonella in its seasonal Easter Kinder Surprise eggs in Belgium prompted Ferrero to recall four of the products in
One of Australia’s largest chilled ready meal manufacturers, Beak & Johnston, announced
a $90 million new kitchen facility. The 12,000 square metre
NOUMI SETTLEMENT
A licensing dispute with
November-December 2022 | Food&Drink business | 5
The Top 10 clicks of 2022
This year was not shy of a big breaking stories, but these 10 scored the most clicks on the Food & Drink Business website for 2022. For our full report on all of the year’s top headlines head to page 66.
TOP CLICKS