Tasting Australia is preparing for its 20th edition as South Australia heads into a bigger year for food and drink recognition. The festival will run from April 30 to May 9, 2027 across Adelaide and regional South Australia, with Journey Beyond returning as presenting partner. The 2027 program will be shaped by Festival Curators Duncan Welgemoed and Kane Pollard, who will be joined by new Festival Curator Rebecca Hopkins. Hopkins brings more than 25 years of experience across wine, hospitality, lifestyle, communications, marketing and events in Australia and the United States. South Australian venues are also being invited to take part in the 2027 program, with applications open until Friday, October 9. Venue applications are opening in a year when South Australian food is already drawing more attention. Next month, the state will become the first Australian destination to feature in the MICHELIN Guide. Minister for Tourism Emily Bourke said, “Great food and drink are part of South Australia’s identity, cherished by locals and celebrated by visitors who are consistently impressed by the quality and authenticity of our experiences. Tasting Australia honours that passion. “Next month South Australia will make its debut in the world-renowned MICHELIN Guide – the first Australian destination to feature in the global gastronomic bible and further evidence of our state’s culinary credentials and their power to attract visitors from around the world.” Hopkins said, “For almost two decades, this very special festival has welcomed guests in ways that are always uniquely South Australian and delivered with heart. “Meira Harel and Banjo Harris Plane have done a wonderful job as Tasting Australia drinks curators over the past four years, and it’s an honour to now step into the role and celebrate the world of beverages and the stories they tell. “Having recently returned to live in McLaren Vale after nearly 20 years abroad working in wine, I’m convinced South Australia is the best place in the world to make wine, connect with nature and share those experiences with a passionate community.” Tasting Australia has become one of the state’s major food and drink events, drawing together chefs, winemakers, producers, venues and visitors across the city and regions. Journey Beyond Executive General Manager of Marketing Justine Lally said, “Journey Beyond is thrilled to once again be the presenting partner of Tasting Australia, and to celebrate the incredible food, people and places that make South Australia such a special destination. “Some of life and travel’s best memories are created around a table, sharing great food and stories, particularly when you’re discovering somewhere new. That’s what makes Tasting Australia such a natural partnership for Journey Beyond.” The full Tasting Australia 2027 program will be announced closer to the event. Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

Macca’s is bringing the McGold Card to Australia for the first time, giving nine people the chance to win Free Macca’s for Life. The once-mythical card will arrive in September as part of a month-long MyMacca’s App campaign, combining daily deals with prize entries for one of the biggest flexes in fast food. From September 1, Macca’s will drop a new Golden Deal in the app every day. Offers will include a $3 Big Mac, a $2.50 McFlurry, and a Quarter Pounder with a small Soft Drink for under $6. Every eligible Golden Deal purchase made through the MyMacca’s App will also put customers in the running to win a McGold Card. Annabel Fribence, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s Australia, said, “The McGold Card has become the ultimate piece of Macca’s lore around the world, so we’re incredibly excited to finally bring it to Australia and give our fans the chance to get their hands on one. “At Macca’s, delivering great value is at the heart of what we do, whether that’s through our Loose Change Menu, McSmart Range or MyMacca’s rewards. “This September, we’re taking our commitment to value to a whole new level with daily Golden Deals in the MyMacca’s App, alongside the chance to win a prize Aussies have only ever dreamed about. “From scoring your favourite Macca’s order for less to joining the search for our missing McGold Card on Bondi Beach, we’re giving fans more reasons to visit. It’s an exciting chance to be part of Macca’s history and become one of Australia’s very first McGold Card holders.” Macca’s is also taking the hunt offline with a Bondi Beach event on Friday, September 4. The McGold Rush will start at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, where MyMacca’s App users can take part in a timed metal detector challenge on the sand. Hidden tokens will unlock Macca’s merch, food vouchers or a spot in the grand finale. Later that day, successful challengers will compete in the final search for the missing McGold Card. One person will walk away with Free Macca’s for Life, while the other finalists will receive prizes. Spots for the McGold Rush are available to book via Eventbrite, with limited additional availability on the day. The McGold Card promotion begins through the MyMacca’s App from September 1, with the Bondi McGold Rush taking place on September 4. Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

Sprite is putting itself courtside for Australian basketball, signing on as the Official Soft Drink Partner of the NBL and WNBL. The multi-year partnership kicks off in the 2026/27 season and will run across Australia’s top men’s and women’s basketball competitions, from regular season games to HoopsFest and the Finals Series. The deal also extends to NBL Next Stars, connecting Sprite with emerging players using the league as a pathway to the professional game and, for many, the NBA. The local partnership follows Sprite’s return as the NBA’s Official Global Soft Drink Partner in 2026, along with a new multi-season deal with EuroLeague Basketball for 2026/27. It brings the brand’s long-running basketball connection back into focus after a history with the sport that ran from 1986 to 2015, including a long stint as title sponsor of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Sprite Marketing Director Gemma Versteeg said, “Sprite and basketball have been intertwined for decades. Bringing that story to the local NBL and WNBL is a natural next step. Australian basketball is fast, growing and unapologetically itself, which is exactly what Sprite stands for. “We’re here to own the freshest moments in the game and give fans something worth talking about.” Starting with the dunk The brand will roll out The Freshest Dunks, a season-long platform celebrating standout dunks across the NBL and WNBL. The best dunks of every round will be cut for social, broadcast in-arena and pushed across screens as part of the match-day experience. Promotions, giveaways and courtside hydration will also play a big role across the partnership. NBL Group Chief Executive Officer David Stevenson said, “Sprite has been a global supporter of elite basketball for a long time, and it’s great to see our connection growing in Australia and New Zealand alongside the continued growth of the NBL and WNBL. “Partners like Sprite continue to fuel that trajectory, and I want to personally thank Ahmed and the team at Coca-Cola Australia and New Zealand for backing our players, our fans and the future of elite basketball. “There are so many genuine fan moments this partnership will bring to life across both leagues, from massive dunks to back-breaking shots, and all the celebrations that follow; when we’ve seen fans caught up in the action and trying not to spill their Sprite with the excitement. “We are thrilled to be growing this partnership and look forward to bringing Sprite, the NBL and WNBL closer to fans across Australia and New Zealand.” The WNBL will be part of the same push, with Sprite set to amplify players and standout moments through social and content as the women’s league continues building its audience. Lauren Jackson, Chief Strategy and Basketball Partnerships Officer of the WNBL, said, “The WNBL is growing faster than ever, with bigger crowds, more people watching our games and a new generation of fans connecting with our players. “Partnerships like this are important because they help us celebrate the moments that make basketball so exciting and put our athletes in front of even more Australians. “Sprite brings a fresh energy that fits perfectly with where the WNBL is heading, and we’re excited to see our players and their standout moments amplified across the season.” Source: Ogilvy PR Find more food culture updates on Crumb Wire.

Box Divvy is taking its cheaper-produce model into Queensland as grocery pressure keeps pushing families to look beyond the supermarket aisle. The community food network will open its first five Queensland Hubs in Browns Plains, Kingston, Regents Park, Zillmere and Banyo, less than a year after expanding into Victoria. The launch adds Queensland to a network of more than 400 neighbourhood Hubs supporting almost 16,000 families across NSW, the ACT and Victoria. For Martina Rewha, who will run the Regents Park Hub, the model arrived at the right time. With a large family to feed, Rewha had already been looking for a way to buy better quality fruit and vegetables at a lower price. She had considered buying directly from markets and splitting larger orders with family and friends before discovering Box Divvy. “I just thought there must be a way we could get better quality fruit and vegetables, know where our produce was coming from and make it a bit cheaper for everyone,” Rewha said. “Then I discovered Box Divvy and realised it was basically what I’d been thinking about doing myself, but the whole model and supply network was already there. The produce is delivered to my house and I pack everyone’s individual orders ready for them to collect.” A Queensland price comparison conducted on August 17 found a basket of 21 fresh produce items cost $86.37 through Box Divvy, compared with $142.62 from an online supermarket. According to Box Divvy, that made its basket 39 per cent cheaper, with the Hubster fee included. Rewha already has 25 members signed up to her Regents Park Hub, largely through word of mouth and local community groups. “I’m so excited. It shows there are other families around here looking for the same thing,” Rewha said. Box Divvy started as a small street co-op run by husband-and-wife team Jayne Travers-Drapes and Anton van den Berg. It has since grown into a community-run food network connecting households with fresh produce, pantry staples and ethical suppliers through local Hubs. Members order online each week and collect from a Hub run by someone in their neighbourhood. There are no membership fees, but members are expected to place regular orders. The model is designed to reduce the time produce spends sitting in storage or moving through the supply chain before it reaches households. Members can also see where their food comes from, what suppliers are paid and how money is distributed through the supply chain. Co-founder Jayne Travers-Drapes said, “More and more Australians are looking beyond price alone and asking bigger questions about their food. Where did it come from? Who grew it? How much waste was created along the way? And who benefits from the dollars they spend? “Box Divvy gives people answers to those questions while helping create a food system that is fresher, fairer and more transparent.” The Queensland launch will be supported by Suncoast Fresh, which will handle fulfilment and delivery to the Hubs. Founded in Noosa in 2008, Suncoast Fresh now supplies customers across South East Queensland and Northern NSW, working directly with more than 40 local farms. The expansion comes as more households look for ways to manage grocery costs while still buying fresh produce. Box Divvy says recent research found food insecurity among its members dropped from 51 per cent to 28 per cent after joining, while fruit and vegetable consumption increased significantly. Co-founder Anton van den Berg said, “Box Divvy is about more than food. It’s about rebuilding the social fabric of communities. Our Hubs also create opportunities for people to earn additional income, support Australian growers and reconnect with their neighbours. In an increasingly disconnected world, those local connections matter more than ever.” Box Divvy is also looking for more Queenslanders interested in becoming Hubsters and earning additional income by running a Hub in their local community. Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.