Industry experts discuss outlook for Australia's food & grocery sector

Six Degrees Executive recently hosted two Food & Grocery Industry Outlook events in Melbourne and Sydney, bringing together over 200 of Australia's top food and grocery professionals. The events aimed to offer valuable market insights and foster strategic discussions that would help suppliers, retailers, and other stakeholders collaborate in navigating the economic challenges facing Australia’s food and grocery sector.

With macroeconomic pressures such as inflation and supply chain disruptions at the forefront of the agenda, the event provided a platform for industry leaders to explore how suppliers are balancing the need to maintain strong retailer relationships with the necessity of building long-term resilience amid market volatility.

At the Melbourne event, Tanya Barden, CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, was joined by a panel of prominent leaders, including Peter Findlay, CEO of Bega Group; Peter Schulte, Head of Global Sales at SunRice; and Suzanne Harman, Senior Director of Supply Chain & Fulfilment at Simplot. In Sydney, the panel featured Paul Foster, CEO of George Weston Foods; Alexia Horley, General Manager of Foods at PepsiCo; and Glen Wojcinski, Supply Chain Director of Kellanova.

“As our industry faces increasing economic pressures and public scrutiny, it’s more important than ever to maintain strong, balanced relationships between suppliers and retailers. We’re part of an interconnected ecosystem where collaboration is key to overcoming challenges and driving long-term growth,” said Barden.

Central to the discussions was the critical role of suppliers in ensuring products reach consumers, despite ongoing market uncertainties. Speakers highlighted the importance of forging and maintaining strategic, collaborative partnerships with retailers to ensure continued growth and sustainability.

Horley from PepsiCo emphasized this point, saying, “We don’t have physical stores, so we depend on major retailers to deliver our products to consumers. A balanced and collaborative relationship with our retail partners is essential for both growth and sustainability.”

The panellists also discussed the cyclical nature of economic pressures, stressing the importance of adopting a long-term view in responding to these challenges, rather than relying on short-term, reactive strategies.

In response to ongoing supply chain disruptions, industry leaders urged companies to invest in local production, diversify their sourcing strategies, and enhance supply chain agility. Long-term investments in domestic capacity were recognized as key to building resilience, especially in the face of climate-related risks.

Sustainability also emerged as a prominent theme, with businesses exploring innovative solutions to meet growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products while managing rising cost pressures.

“Connecting the end-to-end supply chain—from logistics to customer service—is essential for delivering results. True success comes from collaboration, not just with customers, but also with suppliers and service providers across the board,” said Harman.

Six Degrees Executive, which has been at the forefront of connecting leaders in Australia’s food and grocery sector for over 20 years, remains committed to supporting the industry through challenging market conditions. "These events are part of our ongoing effort to promote the food and grocery sector as a vibrant career choice, while also connecting industry leaders and nurturing a strong talent pipeline for the future,” said Nick Hindhaugh, co-founder of Six Degrees Executive.