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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 latest report from RaboResearch has found impact from the Reserve Bank’s fifth interest rate rise this year on the food and beverage sector is weakening demand, raising input costs and splintering food inflation by category.

Adelaide brewer, Coopers Brewery, recorded its third year of volume growth in FY26, lifting keg sales by 7.4 per cent and reporting a 6.2 per cent profit before tax increase to $23.9 million.

Contract brewer, Tribe Breweries, has acquired Gold Coast craft brewer Black Hops out of voluntary administration. The price has not been disclosed, but Tribe says all Queensland roles and 90 per cent of jobs nationally to be retained.