• The coffee-cup messages are aimed at young people who need an emotional boost.
    The coffee-cup messages are aimed at young people who need an emotional boost.
Close×

Takeaway coffee cups will be used to carry messages of hope to vulnerable young people throughout October, which is Mental Health Month.

Sydney cafes have been urged to purchase stickers for their cups with pre-written messages, or develop their own messages for customers.

These include survival tips and words of encouragement for those struggling emotionally.

The campaign is run by Weave Youth & Community Services, a non-profit community organisation that has been working with disadvantaged young people, women, children and families in Sydney's CBD and South for over 35 years.

Weave chief executive Shane Brown said the campaign was aimed at helping people reflect on their strength and resilience, with tips for getting through hard times.

“You don’t need to have suffered a mental illness to pass on or receive valuable survival tips,” Brown said.

“We all experience hard times and through these learn different ways to cope.

“Many people are scared or uncertain about where to turn at the time they need help the most, and mental illness and suicide rates remain too high, particularly among young people.

“Small gestures or words of wisdom can make a huge difference to someone in their moments of need.

“We all see the daily cup of coffee as a bit of a pick me up in the mornings.

"We’re hopeful that the messages on each cup will go above and beyond that – by raising awareness and shining a spotlight on mental health and wellbeing.”

Food & Drink Business

Mars Australia & New Zealand has appointed Karim Lokhandwala as its new chief customer officer of Petcare, commencing 1 June. The news comes as applications open for the company’s Next Generation Pet Food Program with Big Idea Ventures – now in its third year.

Simson's Pantry received the Best NPD Award for its High Protein Souvlaki, which delivers 10g of protein per serve while still maintaining the texture, flexibility and versatility consumers expect. By combining functional nutrition with everyday usability, the company has successfully introduced a new point of differentiation within the Australian flatbread category.

Freshwater Bev Tech has received this year's Gamechanger Award for its patent-pending unpasteurised production process, developed specifically to preserve bio-active compounds in the company's functional beverage brand, SUMMi Soda.