Will Lactalis cut Fonterra’s farmers loose?
A political storm has been brewing Down Under as Fonterra’s shareholders voted on the co-op’s megadeal with Lactalis
Lactalis’ proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s consumer and integrated businesses has been stirring up New Zealand’s political scene.
The country’s foreign affairs minister has cast doubt over the future supply relationship of the two dairy majors, speculating that the French multi-national has ‘every incentive’ to cut ties with Fonterra’s dairy farmers.
Postcard from Sydney: Lamingtons, loaves & legends
Sydney’s bakeries aren’t just baking – they’re performing. From sky-high lamingtons to cult sourdough, this city’s pastry scene blends precision, play and viral energy in every bite
Sydney doesn’t do subtle when it comes to baked goods. Whether it’s a blood orange and yuzu cruffin that looks like modern art, a finger lime éclair or a lamington shaped like a cube and dusted in freeze-dried berries, you get the feeling these bakers are out to make a point.
And they are. Over the past 18 months, Sydney’s bakery scene has gone from cult local favorite to global influencer status. Food tourists are flying in for queues outside hole-in-the-wall viennoiseries. Croissants are trending on TikTok. Pastry chefs are becoming household names. It’s theatrical, confident and incredibly precise.
Back to RIG: How will new Nestle CEO’s growth plans impact APAC?
New Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil has reset Real Internal Growth (RIG) as his ‘most important’ priority moving forward – but just how will his plans for this impact APAC?
“As CEO, I want to share with you my four big priorities – Driving RIG-led growth is the most important [followed by] a winning portfolio, building a culture that delivers and rewards performance, and accelerating business transformation and cost savings,” he told the floor at Nestle’s most recent financial results conference.
Danone becomes the largest B Corp
The achievement gives Danone a competitive advantage over the likes of Nestlé and Unilever and is a boon for investor confidence
Danone is now the largest B Corp in the world after achieving full global certification in 2025.This positions the food, beverage and nutrition group ahead of key competitors in corporate sustainability terms while reducing regulatory and reputational risks and enhancing consumer and investor confidence in the company.
Functional beer: The next wave in craft brewing innovation
From low-carb to probiotics, craft beers are going all out to create novel, functional options and attract a whole new set of conscious consumers
Beer is not usually equated with healthier beverages or functional innovation, but with the health and wellness trend firmly afoot among consumers, many brewers are moving to develop options in line with this trend.Craft brewers in particular have embraced this trend of functional beers, with many usually starting off by removing ‘unhealthy’ components such as carbohydrates or alcohol.
