Close×

Packaging automation integrator Foodmach has appointed Chris Yule as national sales manager, effective immediately.

Yule leads a team of six sales and technical support engineers around Australia focused on Foodmach’s core offerings. The team works alongside the technology products and international sales teams. The position was created after CEO Earle Roberts was promoted from chief customer officer twelve months ago.

“Chris’ experience across the entire spectrum of engineering roles within the business make him exceptionally well-qualified to lead the sales team," Roberts said.

Yule previously held the title of national sales engineer at Foodmach.

He joined the company in 2003 as a design draftsperson after completing his studies in Mechanical Engineering at Swinburne. For the following five years he held numerous roles within the Foodmach engineering department.

He enjoyed a four-year career break in Europe and North America before returning to the fold. He then moved into sales in 2014 and has now been with the company for 13 years.

“People are the reason I returned to Foodmach eight years ago, both the staff and our customers,” Yule said.

“Spending time overseas gave me an even greater appreciation of Foodmach’s positive work culture and the exciting partnerships we have with our FMCG and industrial customers.”

Yule was part of the engineering and 3D modelling team that developed the early Robomatrix High Speed Palletisers, Foodmach’s award-winning design for user-friendly pallet automation.

Yule said he was looking forward to further enhancing Foodmach’s range of products and services.

“Australia’s producers will have enough challenges on their hands for the foreseeable future,” he said.

“If we can relieve them of their factory automation concerns by streamlining operations and increasing productivity, it’s just one less thing they have to worry about.”

Food & Drink Business

Gold Coast brewery, Black Hops, has entered administration for the second time, with an urgent sale campaign underway for the business.

In the final chapter of court action regarding the 2020 collapse of Freedom Foods Group, the Federal Court has found former managing director and CEO, Rory Macleod, breached his duties as a director and officer, and failed to take all reasonable steps to secure the company’s compliance with its financial reporting obligations.

Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry is converging on Melbourne this week for foodpro 2026, the country’s leading trade event for processing, packaging and innovation. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 26-29 July, foodpro 2026 will be opened at 10am on Sunday 26 July by Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Skills and TAFE, Colin Brooks.