• Nathan Wardell thanks the Packserv team and says he looks forward to a resurgence in onshore manufacturing.
    Nathan Wardell thanks the Packserv team and says he looks forward to a resurgence in onshore manufacturing.
  • Sydney-based Packserv has won the Local Manufacturing Award for its commitment to onshore equipment development for the Australian food and beverage industry.
    Sydney-based Packserv has won the Local Manufacturing Award for its commitment to onshore equipment development for the Australian food and beverage industry.
Close×

At the Food & Drink Business Hive Awards last week, Sydney-based Packserv won the 2025 Local Manufacturing trophy for its commitment to onshore equipment development for the Australian food and beverage industry.

Packserv MD Nathan Wardell and Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry.

The winners of the 2025 Hive Awards have been recognised and celebrated as some of Australia's most innovative food and beverage manufacturers over the past year. The awards were presented on Thursday 8 May during a long lunch at Linseed House, Sydney, in front of a room of over 150 industry leaders abuzz with excitement.

Based in Sydney’s Inner West, Packserv designs and builds industry-leading equipment, including Australia’s first high-speed filler using Industry 4.0 technology.

Based in Sydney’s Inner West, Packserv designs and builds industry-leading equipment, including Australia’s first high-speed filler using Industry 4.0 technology. 
Source: Packserv
Packserv designs and builds industry-leading equipment.
Source: Packserv

Packserv sources components from Australian suppliers and trains its technicians through a rigorous 24-month in-house program. Its machines are engineered for safety, energy efficiency, and ease of integration into existing production lines.

Packserv also has a sustainable design approach with a “Buy for Life” philosophy.

The company reinvests 30 per cent of revenue into R&D and the expansion of its Marrickville facility. Through partnerships with the University of Technology Sydney, and other universities, as well as industry engagement via the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), Packserv drives ongoing innovation and plays a critical role in strengthening Australia’s manufacturing beyond its own operations.

Speaking at the event, Nathan Wardell, MD of the family-owned and operated business, expressed hopes for a resurgence in onshore manufacturing following the recent election, in light of the Labour government’s Future Made in Australia program.

 

Food & Drink Business

Net revenue for Bubs Australia fell 9.8 per cent to $23.1 million in Q1 FY27, with operating cash outflow widening to $6 million from $4.4 million on the prior corresponding period.

With six generations of consumers shopping side by side for the first time, poor product quality registered as the biggest frustration across the board, with 47 per cent saying they were most annoyed when food spoils too quickly or doesn’t last. The finding comes from the latest report by UK-based product intelligence platform, Vypr into Australian consumers, Six Generations, One Shelf.

Murray Cod Australia (MCA) reported a record 175.9 tonnes of fish sold in 1H27, lifting sales volume by 45.7 per cent. Net sales rose 34.2 per cent to $3.92 million, as it shifts away from using seafood distributors.