After a six-year hiatus, one of Australia’s largest, longest running, and most trusted food manufacturing industry events is back in 2023. foodpro will take place on 23—26 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“Globally, the FMCG industry was one that experienced growth from 2020–2023,” said Felicity Parker, foodpro event and product manager.

“Whilst many businesses and industries feared for survival, the biggest challenge for food and beverage manufacturing was capacity and supply. Here in Australia, we saw empty market shelves as a result of sea freight disruption coupled with panic and bulk buying behaviour.

“Now that the shipping lines around the world are resuming to pre-COVID frequency, and supply is beginning to catch up with demand, [a poll run by foodpro] indicates that manufacturers are getting the chance to take a breath and can now look to invest once more.”

The event will consist of its usual zone—eight this year, which will be: ingredients, food science and technology, processing equipment, plant equipment, packaging, and the new traceability and provenance zone. It will be a fantastic opportunity for attendees to network and catch up with people in the industry after such a long break.

“With a focus on efficiency and sustainability at this year’s event, there are a host of new educational and experiential features alongside an extensive mix of exhibiting suppliers,” said Ms Parker.

“Food and beverage processing is Australia’s largest manufacturing industry and is vitally important for our manufacturing future. Face-to-face interaction is the foundation of building strong relationships, and in-person events create the necessary push for business to happen and have significant ROI implications. We are looking forward to yet another hugely successful event.”