The Hive Awards 2025

Celebrating innovation and excellence in the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector.

“In developing the awards, we wanted the name to reflect the complexity, inter-connectedness, ambition, and tirelessness of Australia’s food and drink manufacturing sector. We couldn’t go past the concept of bees and their hive, a flawless system that runs 24/7, driven by a dedicated and determined workforce to consistently deliver a product to the highest standard. And so, The Hive Awards were born.” – Kim Berry, editor of Food & Drink Business.

Categories:

The nine awards celebrate outstanding projects and companies in the industry.

While the criteria and focus may differ between categories, all entrants must show how they embody The Hive Awards’ values of innovation and excellence.

The Golden Hive will be awarded if Food & Drink Business decides one of the category winners warrants even greater recognition.

Best Ingredient Award

This award recognises the best development and/or application of an ingredient for use in a food or beverage product.

Best Processing Award

This award recognises the best project displaying a product or process innovation and/or application.

Best Packaging Award

This award recognises the best innovation and/or application of packaging for food and/or beverage products.

Best Technology Award

This award recognises the best development or implementation of innovative technologies, equipment, or systems that set new benchmarks for excellence in food and beverage manufacturing.

Local Manufacturing

This award recognises excellence in a commitment to onshore production and manufacturing of Australian food and beverage products.

Excellence in Value Innovation

This award recognises companies that have responded to current economic and cultural conditions with innovative value-driven solutions that successfully balance customer needs, profitability, and business relationships, to create impactful, sustainable, and commercially viable outcomes.

Outstanding Business Achievement Award

This award recognises a business that encapsulates organisational excellence, emphasising leadership, innovation, sustainability, and quantifiable performance metrics.

Rising Star

This award recognises a start-up that is less than three years old and has disrupted established markets.

Gamechanger

This category is for the company that embodies new ideas, innovations, and practices for the benefit of future food systems.

The Golden Hive

The Golden Hive recipient is selected by Food & Drink Business from the category winners.