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

Kellanova Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) has appointed Michelle Leadbetter to Commercial Director, Snacks, ANZ. Leadbetter previously led the Grocery and Convenience channel at Sanofi Healthcare. 

Independent brewery, Local Brewing Co., says its $400,000 grant from the Coles Nurture Fund will enable it to greatly expand production of its brewing innovation, EcoCrumb, transforming even more surplus bread into a substitute for traditional grain used to brew beer.

The Coca-Cola Company says it will expand into the Australian alcoholic ready-to-drink category with its acquisition of Billson’s Beverages. Billson’s went into voluntary administration in July last year.