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There's never a dull moment in the dynamic Australasian packaging industry, with M&A activity, leadership changes, and product innovation keeping our news desk busy all year long.

From Orora's booming growth over the financial year, to the Australian Government's pledge to make all packaging in the country reusable, compostable or recyclable by 2025, to needles in strawberries and plastic bags out of supermarkets, to the first ever Print21 + PKN LIVE joint event, 2018 was a rollercoaster of a year for the packaging industry... and PKN was there to cover all the news highlights.

See our review of the year that was in the latest issue of PKN magazine.

Food & Drink Business

The federal government has released the latest round of Industry Growth Program (IGP) recipients, alongside news that the program is going on indefinite hiatus following the 2026 Budget. Several food sector companies were awarded, including A-Culture Holding, Algenie, and VeraSys.

Asahi Group Holdings has appointed Nigel Parsons as CEO of Asahi Europe & International, taking over the role from Dragoș Constantinescu, who will depart at the end of June.

Integrated organic meat producer, Hewitt Foods, has entered into an agreement to acquire family-owned beef company, Nolan Meats, with the transaction expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.