The Hive Awards 2025 has recognised and celebrated some of the country’s most innovative food and beverage companies and operators.

BEST INGREDIENT AWARD: Aquafab

Unlike traditional aquafaba sourced from canned chickpeas, Aquafab is made from faba bean protein and processed to deliver the same foaming capabilities without the mess or waste. This shelf-stable product eliminates health concerns linked to raw egg whites and avoids the bitter aftertaste associated with synthetic foamers.

BEST PACKAGING AWARD: Chobani Australia

Chobani Australia has received the Best Packaging Award for its Gippsland Dairy Crafted 150g pot. The packaging features a clear PET pot with embossed branding, a heat-sealed foil lid, and a recyclable paperboard sleeve printed with soy-based ink.

BEST TECHNOLOGY AWARD: Treasury Wine Estates

Treasury Wine Estates won the Best Technology Award for setting a new global benchmark with the world’s first fully automated barrel management system at its Barossa Valley facility.

The project has integrated digital workflows, QR codes, RFID tags, and driverless forklifts to replace legacy systems of chalk and cards, while also implementing renewable energy and water management practices.

LOCAL MANUFACTURING : Packserv

Sydney-based Packserv has won the Local Manufacturing Award for its commitment to onshore equipment development for the Australian food and beverage industry. The company designs and builds high-speed fillers, pneumatic machinery, and modular packaging systems, all locally manufactured and serviced.

Based in Sydney’s Inner West, Packserv designs and builds industry-leading equipment, including Australia’s first high-speed filler using Industry 4.0 technology.

EXCELLENCE IN VALUE INNOVATION: Hirsch Wine Group

The Hirsch Wine Group has been awarded the Excellence in Value Innovation Award for its vertically integrated winemaking model. Based in the Yarra Valley, the business offers in-house contract winemaking, bottling, storage, and logistics services, reducing costs and improving quality control.

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has been recognised with the Outstanding Business Achievement Award for its performance in operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

In 2024, Australia became CCEP’s fourth-largest market globally, accounting for over 12 per cent of group revenue. Operational highlights include a 97.5 per cent casefill rate and award-winning supplier partnerships with major retailers.

RISING STAR: Elato Ice Cream

With its “Gourmet Plus” positioning, midway between indulgent and health-focused products, Elato Ice Cream was awarded the Rising Star.

Elato leverages a patented method that enhances sweetness naturally, enabling 30 per cent less added sugar without artificial sweeteners. This breakthrough allows Elato’s flavours to shine, earning it widespread acclaim, including being named Australia’s #1 vanilla ice cream by the Good Food Guide in 2025. Its products are allergy-friendly, all-natural, and hold a 3-star Health Star Rating, creating a compelling balance of indulgence and nutrition.

GAMECHANGER AWARD JOINT WINNER: Gina’s Table

Bundaberg-based Gina’s Table has earned the Gamechanger Award at the Hive Awards 2025 for its leadership in reducing food waste through value-added processing, diverting more than 252 tonnes of produce from landfill to date.

From surplus strawberries to international snacks, Gina’s Table is leading the way when it comes to addressing food waste. The company is an offshoot of Bundaberg’s SSS Strawberries that has created a high-impact model to transforms second-grade fruit – once deemed unmarketable – into nutritious, value-added products like freeze-dried powders, crumbles, and snacks.

GAMECHANGER AWARD JOINT WINNER: TomKat Global Solutions

KoolPak by TomKat Global Solutions received the 2025 Gamechanger Award for its breakthrough in sustainable cold chain logistics, offering a reusable and recyclable alternative to environmentally damaging expanded polystyrene (EPS).

Developed with five patent families, KoolPak features a modular, collapsible design and includes NFC-enabled temperature and location tracking, empowering users to monitor shipments without opening them.

With over 30 reuses per unit, KoolPak delivers significant cost savings and reduces emissions by 65 per cent compared to EPS. The packaging’s flat-pack design cuts freight and storage costs while enhancing traceability and food safety.

THE GOLDEN HIVE: Gina’s Table

Gina’s Table took home The Hive Award’s 2025 Golden Hive for its leadership, innovation, and commitment to reducing food waste through value-added processing. To date, the company has diverted more than 252 tonnes of produce from landfill.

Since launching, Gina’s Table has diverted over 250 tonnes of produce from landfill and is scaling rapidly. Its state-of-the-art 4000 square metre freeze-drying facility is equipped with GEA technology that was developed for NASA.