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Entries close soon for the 2019 APPMA Awards of Excellence, with more than half of the tickets already sold for the gala dinner at AUSPACK in March.

The dinner features a sustainability theme this year, with even the menu designed to reduce food waste. According to Mark Dingley, APPMA chair, there has been plenty of interest already.

“There are only 450 tickets available for the Gala Awards Ceremony and these are already over half sold. It’s fantastic to see people so keen to share in this night of networking, and celebrating innovation and our industry in general.”

Award entries close on 26 January, and Dingley urges anyone looking to participate to get their submissions in before the date, as well as book their tickets for the event.

“AUSPACK is only three months away, so I encourage people to get in quickly and secure their tickets for the Gala Awards Ceremony. I also strongly encourage exhibitors and APPMA members to get their Award submissions in before the due date.

“You can enter as many of the five categories as you like. Aside from winning and being a finalist, there are so many benefits to entering these national awards, so submit now,” he said.

This year’s categories are Best New Product, Customer Collaboration Award, Design Innovation Award, Export Success Award, and Imported Equipment Award. For more information, visit www.auspack.com.au/awards.

Food & Drink Business

The Victorian government has invested $160,000 to support the sustainability and profitability of the state’s wine industry, matched by $240,000 from Wine Australia. The funds will help Wine Victoria to provide the wine industry with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to improve practices and outcomes.

Australian spirits producers had an outstanding showing at the 2025 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, with top scoring producers including 30 Knots Spirits, Australian Distilling Co., Ester Distilling, Mt. Uncle Distillery, Nine Circles Distillery, and Turner Stillhouse.

The recent innovation forum hosted by the Australian Marketing Institute and research company, T Garage, examined the reality for the rapidly evolving landscape of consumer goods that innovation is now table stakes. Experts from three of Australia's Top 100 food and drink companies shared their experiences and confirmed innovation is not just a corporate strategy, but a mindset permeating personal and professional life.