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An impressive number of quality entries into the inaugural Hive Awards created a highly competitive line-up for judges to consider the exemplar of excellence and innovation in Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector. The packaging category was one of the most strongly contested.

The Hive Awards is a new program launched this year by PKN's stablemate Food & Drink Business.

The panel of six independent industry experts – Dr Angeline Achariya of Innovation Gamechangers, Polly Burey of Food & Beverage Accelerator, Ian Hayes of APCO, Nerida Kelton of AIP, Anna Tao of CSIRO, Paul Wood of Australian Academy of Tech Sciences & Engineering – as well as Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, and publisher, Lindy Hughson, judged the entries over weeks.

“For the first year of the awards, we were blown away by the number and quality of entries we received. From small start-ups to global players, it was a highly competitive process that led to some robust discussions in the judging room,.

“We congratulate all of the companies that entered and wish all the finalists well as we head towards the awards’ gala event,” Kim Berry said.

The 2024 Hive Awards Best Packaging Award, recognises the best innovation and/or application of packaging for food and/or beverage products.

The finalists, listed in alphabetical order are:

Caps & Closures – ThermoShield Temperature Monitoring System

Confoil – DualPakECO Certified Compostable Food Trays

Detpak – Kerbside Recyclable Paper Bag for Fresh Potatoes

George Weston Foods (DON Smallgoods) – FLOW

Nestlé – KitKat 90% Recycled Plastic Wrapper

Planet Protector – Woolpack Insulated Packaging for Cold Supply Chains

Zipform Packaging – The Good Smoothie Milk Powder Composite Pack

Winners will be announced at The Hive Awards Long Lunch in Sydney on Thursday, 16 May. Tickets for the event are available at https://thehiveawards.com.au/

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