Food & Beverage Reporter

Building skills, improving processes and advancing circular packaging South Africa’s food and beverage industry depends on its ability to develop people, respond to changing consumer needs and improve operational efficiency. In this issue, we examine how workforce development, dairy nutrition, digital measurement and plastics circularity are shaping business decisions across the value chain.

IFF (NYSE: IFF)—a global leader in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences, published its latest resource, Dear Dairy: The Life Stages Guide. This strategic guide reveals how manufacturers can unlock new opportunities by aligning dairy innovation with consumers’ evolving needs throughout life.

In a show of joint force, a real packaging innovation has now been created: together with DS Smith and KHS and based on SCA’s patented Arcwise® technology, Carlsberg is launching an eye-catching premium multipack with rounded corners to market, starting with Poland. Further projects are in the pipeline. When Carlsberg starts contemplating innovative new packaging designs, the focus is on the consumer. Packaging innovation director Marine Andre gets straight to the point.

Inverroche Distillery has been named Africa’s Leading Distillery Tour 2026 at the World Travel Awards, marking the third consecutive year that the Stilbaai distillery has received the title. The World Travel Awards recognise excellence across the global travel, tourism and hospitality sectors and are widely regarded as one of the industry’s most prestigious awards programmes.

Managing change across the food and beverage value chain Change in food and beverage manufacturing is rarely confined to one part of the operation. A decision about an ingredient can affect processing. A change in processing can influence product characteristics. Packaging choices can affect recycling, supply chains and market access. Skills, equipment and process control connect these decisions.

Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ), a global leader in snacking with beloved brands such as Cadbury, OREO, Bournvita and Halls, has appointed Russell Coleman as Senior Director, People Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa. In this role, Russell will lead the people strategy for the Sub-Saharan Africa business, partnering with the leadership team to accelerate growth, strengthen organisational capability and build an inclusive, high-performing culture.

The KHS Group has won the highest EcoVadis award of platinum for the second time running. This rating confirms the outstanding achievements of the expert for filling and packaging lines with respect to sustainability and honors the progress it has made in this field. With 89 out of 100 points, KHS has further improved its score over the previous year and thus cemented its position among the world’s top rated companies. “Winning our second platinum award is a great success for us all here at KHS.

Africa’s temperature-controlled logistics leaders will strengthen the industry’s shared voice when they gather at the GCCA (Global Cold Chain Alliance) Africa Cold Chain Conference at the Fairway Hotel Resort in Johannesburg, South Africa on September 2-3 2026. The annual GCCA event is a keenly anticipated feature of the continent’s logistics calendar.

Functional ingredients are helping food and beverage manufacturers respond to growing demand for products that deliver more than taste and nutrition. From protein and fibre to botanicals, probiotics, vitamins and minerals, innovation is expanding across categories and applications. This feature will spotlight the ingredients and formulation solutions shaping the next generation of functional foods and beverages.

The South African food and beverage industry continues to operate in an environment where manufacturers must balance production efficiency, food safety, consumer expectations, workforce stability and sustainability. In this issue of Food & Beverage Reporter, we examine developments across food processing, packaging, automation, ingredients, healthcare and recycling, highlighting the technologies and business strategies influencing the sector.