What an incredible celebration of our region’s food and beverage industry at Meet the Makers & Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry 2025. From the energy on the ground to the quality of conversations and connections, it was clear this event meant something special to everyone who participated.
More than 300 buyers and industry leaders from across the country walked through The Station’s doors for Meet the Makers, and over 1,600 locals filled their baskets and bellies at the free Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry Twilight Market as part of The Curated Plate. Together, we shone a spotlight on the incredible talent of our members and the strength of our ecosystem.
Early feedback from our exhibitors has been heartening – from the “great vibe” and buzz of collaboration, to the meaningful connections made with buyers, fellow producers and industry supporters. Many told us it was one of the most valuable opportunities they’ve had to connect directly with buyers and showcase their brand – and for some, a first opportunity to showcase their business to such a large, engaged audience.
The FAN team has been humbled by your kind words, constructive ideas, and continued trust. We’re already using your suggestions to shape what comes next and we’re more energised than ever to continue building a platform that champions our incredible regions.
Thank you to every member, partner and supporter who helped make this event such a success.
I’d like to thank the amazing FAN team – Anna Carrick, Bec Gillingham, Jacki Hinchey and Bek Wall, who carefully fermented this amazing event. In particular Anna and Bec raised the bar – and I’m sure all of our members would agree – showed so much love and care to our participating exhibitors.
Table of Contents
This month’s FANmail is packed with opportunities to keep building that momentum – from programs and events to funding and collaborations.
Let’s keep doing what we do best: working together to grow a stronger, smarter and more connected food and agribusiness ecosystem.
Warm regards,
Nicole
Nicole McNaughton
FAN CEO
FAN Board
We’d like to extend our thanks to Glin Bailey, who has stepped down from the FAN Board after serving diligently as Financial Director. We’re grateful for her contribution and for supporting a smooth handover to the incoming Financial Director, Andrew Terlich.
Andrew brings a strong financial background, with Accounting and Chartered Accountant qualifications. He has worked as an Auditor with PwC and held commercial roles at Macquarie Bank, both locally and in Hong Kong. In addition to his current role as CFO of a large business, many of you may remember Andrew from “At One Foods” on the Sunshine Coast and his participation in the “Grow Coastal” program pre-COVID.
We’re also delighted to welcome Olivia Ratten to the FAN Board. Many of you may have met Olivia at Meet the Makers 2025 last week. Olivia grew up in her family’s pet food manufacturing business and built her career in design, sales, and marketing. With an MBA, she now works with manufacturing teams to improve decision-making, strengthen team performance, and uncover growth opportunities, bringing a practical, people-focused approach to strategy and innovation.
The FAN Board is also on the lookout for future Board Members with strong business acumen and energy to contribute. Are you leading your own successful business, or have you held a senior role in a large food or agribusiness operation? We’re especially interested in hearing from individuals with prior board experience -either in the not-for-profit space or on commercial boards – and with backgrounds in governance, legal, or HR.
If this sounds like you, we invite you to express your interest in confidence by emailing chair@
FAN Events
Experiencing a touch of FAN FOMO?! Don’t miss these key events. Check out what’s happening and secure your spot.
We are heading north for a Gympie Member Meetup! Join us for a relaxed and informal FAN Member Meet-Up at Petersen’s Farm at Woolooga, with FAN life time legends Greg and CC.
Woolooga Farm Kitchen, led by Cecilia ‘CC’ Diaz-Petersen and her husband Greg, is a true paddock-to-plate operation crafting award-winning preserves, chutneys and rosella-based products using fresh, seasonal produce from Petersen’s Farm and surrounding growers in Woolooga. Formerly known as CC’s Kitchen, this evolving brand continues to be guided by CC’s passion for authentic, garden-to-jar food and her deep connection to community and place.
Join us for a relaxed and informal FAN Member Meet-Up, a short farm tour, and hear the Big Rosella’s story over a cuppa and scones with – you guessed it, rosella jam.
These gatherings are at the heart of what FAN is all about – connecting, sharing stories, and learning from each other in good company. Click here to register today!
Grow National: Ripe & Ready
Grow National 2025 – Workshop series – REGISTER NOW!
Ripe & Ready is FAN’s, in-person program designed for established food, beverage, and agribusinesses ready to scale. From streamlining production to preparing for export, this hands-on program gives you access to industry experts, tailored support, and powerful connections to help take your business to the next level.
Plain English Allergen Labelling – What You Need to Know – Undeclared allergens are the leading cause of food recalls in Australia. This practical, expert-led workshop will give you the tools and knowledge to comply with the new PEAL (Plain English Allergen Labelling) regulations. Learn how to identify allergen risks, manage cross-contamination, and get your labelling right—with real-world examples, hands-on exercises, and practical resources. Led by UQ Skills Educator and food technologist Mashhuda Carrigan. Presented in collaboration with FaBA – Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator.
When: Tuesday, 21 August – 9am-3pm
REGISTER HERE
Innovation, Product Development and Lifecycle workshop – Learn how to develop a safe, high-quality food or beverage product with confidence. This hands-on workshop walks you through creating a tailored product development roadmap, identifying food safety risks, and navigating labelling and legislation. You’ll apply industry tools to build your own product brief and simulate taking it to market.
Presented in collaboration with FaBA – Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator.
When: Wednesday, 17 September – 9am-3pm
REGISTER HERE
Being Audit Ready – Building Robust Food Safety Systems for Successful Audits Facing a retailer audit or certification against SQF, BRCGS, Freshcare or HACCP? This practical, expert-led workshop will help you prepare with confidence. Learn what auditors look for – and why – plus how to get your people, paperwork and site ready. Includes real-world examples, mock audit exercises, and practical tools to support ongoing compliance. Led by UQ Skills Educator and food technologist Mashhuda Carrigan. Presented in collaboration with FaBA – Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator.
When: Thursday, 16 October 9am-3pm
REGISTER HERE
Workshops are open to both FAN and non-FAN Members.
For more information see here and to register for workshops see here.
Grow National is proudly supported by Regional Development Moreton Bay Sunshine Coast, Turbine Sunshine Coast and funding from AgriFutures Australia and Westpac
Unlocking the FaBA Ecosystem: How to Accelerate Your F&B Business
This webinar dives into how you can tap into the incredible range of opportunities offered by Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) – from matched funding for innovation projects to training, data, and research support. Whether you’re developing a new product, extending shelf life, or rethinking your packaging, learn how to leverage expert advice, R&D capabilities, and up to $60,000 in Kickstarter grants.
We also unpack:
- Training programs curated by FAN + FaBA for 2024–2026, including sessions on AI, allergen labelling, innovation lifecycle, and audit readiness.
- FaBA’s powerful new Market and Customer-Based Data Analytics Dashboard – giving F&B businesses real-time, actionable insights at local, state, and national scale.
PLUS: Insights into the FaBA Growth Hub, UQ Makerspace, and where to access downloadable research and reports.
If you’re a food or beverage business looking to innovate, scale or stay ahead of the curve – this is a must-watch.
Grow National 2025 kicked off with an ESG workshop in partnership with Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA). Participants gained practical tools to navigate sustainability reporting, carbon foot-printing and social impact – future-proofing their businesses while unlocking value and efficiencies. A powerful start to a program helping food and beverage businesses grow with purpose
Here’s a recap of the ESG workshop with Kym Cooper from East Forged.
Unlocking Leadership Potential in F&B Manufacturing. FAN hosted a leadership workshop with FaBA and UQ Skills’ Mashhuda Carrigan, exploring emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and coaching tools. Thanks to FaBA for supporting this session, helping build stronger teams and future-ready leaders in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Here’s a recap from Agnes Pennay from Fresh Meats Wises Road.
Cutting Costs, Creating Value Led by Dr Barry McGookin and the SRJ Walker Wayland Sunshine Coast team, this Grow National workshop gave Food & Beverage manufacturers practical tools and big-picture thinking to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and unlock value across operations, finance, logistics, and production.
Cutting Costs, Creating Value Led by Dr Barry McGookin and the SRJ Walker Wayland Sunshine Coast team, this Grow National workshop gave Food & Beverage manufacturers practical tools and big-picture thinking to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and unlock value across operations, finance, logistics, and production.
Member Opportunities
We’ve made it easier to stay across what’s on offer. Our Member Opportunities page brings together the latest EOIs, programs, events, and ways to get involved – curated especially for FAN members. Bookmark it and check back regularly to make the most of what’s happening across the network.
Right now there’s information about joining Maleny Farm Fest in November, a call for your contribution to a Business Chamber QLD pulse survey, and information about the Disaster Recovery Grants available from TC Alfred. Along with a range of other opportunities. Check it out now!
Upcoming Grants
Funding opportunities you need to know about – see what’s open and apply now..
FAN Member Resources
Stay up to date with the latest insights and practical tools to support your business. Check out our recent webinars featuring industry experts and FAN partners—designed to help you grow, connect, and build a more resilient and inclusive business..
Join FAN and our valued partner Successful Grants for an engaging workshop designed to empower businesses with the tools and insights needed to proactively prepare for grants and funding opportunities. Whether you’re new to grants or looking to improve your success rate, this session will provide practical advice and actionable tips.
Brought to you by Cluster Connect, the Industry Growth Program partner for the food, beverage, and agribusiness sector. Learn more: foodagribusiness.org.au/
Webinar Replay: Is Your Food Business Ready for eCommerce?
In partnership with Presstwood Design, this session explores what it takes to launch your food business online with confidence. From choosing the right platform and integrating POS to navigating food-specific logistics, this webinar is packed with practical insights to help you sell smarter online.
Looking for more webinars, tools, templates and tips to support your business journey? FAN Connect and Commercial Members can access the full FAN Resource Centre via our member platform, WAVE.
Our Supporters
Don’t forget — there’s almost $4,000 worth of exclusive offers waiting for you! Thanks to our incredible FAN Partners and Commercial Members, you can access a wide range of member-only deals designed to support and grow your business. Head to our Member Deals & Offers page to see what’s available to you.