German beer brand Paulaner has signed on as official supplier to the Audi Revolut F1 Team for the 2026 season, with its non-alcoholic wheat beer Paulaner 0.0% at the heart of the deal. The Munich brewery pours in the paddock as the team’s exclusive drinks supplier and features on Audi F1 team helmets across a race calendar spanning more than 20 markets. The partnership puts Paulaner 0.0% front and centre for fans looking to be part of the celebration without the alcohol. The Audi Revolut F1 Team gave the partnership a strong start in Melbourne, where Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto crossed the line ninth alongside experienced German campaigner Nico Hülkenberg to claim the team’s first-ever Formula 1 championship points. From Melbourne, the season moved to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, back on the calendar for only its second race after a five-year COVID-enforced absence. Paulaner sent both of its most senior executives to the race, a sign of how much the Chinese market matters to the brewery’s global ambitions. Schörghuber Group CEO Florian Schörghuber, majority shareholder of Paulaner Brewery Group, says China holds a particular significance for the brand. “China holds a special place in Paulaner’s global story. The growth we have seen here is not just a number – it reflects a genuine connection between Chinese consumers and what Paulaner represents: quality, heritage and the Bavarian way of life. Being in Shanghai, at the Formula 1, is exactly where Paulaner belongs.” Paulaner Brewery Group CEO Jörg Biebernick adds, “China is our fastest-growing market and one of the most exciting beer markets in the world. “We see a new generation of Chinese consumers embracing German premium beer, and Paulaner is perfectly positioned to lead that conversation. Partnering with the Audi F1 Team brings that story to life on the biggest possible stage.” For a 390-year-old Bavarian brewery built on quality and craft, Formula 1 is a significant new stage. Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Haigh’s Chocolates is bringing its premium chocolate to Melbourne’s west, with a new store opening at Highpoint Shopping Centre in June. The opening marks the chocolatier’s seventh Melbourne location, filling a gap in the west after years of growth concentrated in the city and inner suburbs. Existing stores sit at Block Arcade, Elizabeth Street, Collins Street, Hawthorn, Toorak and Eastland. The new store will be on Level 3 near Cotton On, with the full Haigh’s range available alongside complimentary in-store tastings. Expanding its footprint The move is part of a broader 10-year growth strategy, with the brand steadily expanding its footprint across the eastern seaboard. Haigh’s Chocolates Chief Executive Peter Millard says, “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new store at Highpoint Shopping Centre, bringing our much-loved premium chocolate to Melbourne’s west, as demand continues to grow in the Victorian market.” Highpoint Shopping Centre Senior Marketing Manager Caroline Pietrzak says the addition is a strong fit for the centre. “Iconic Australian chocolatier Haigh’s is an exciting addition to Highpoint, further enhancing the centre’s strong and diverse retail mix.,” she says. “Haigh’s will be a highly anticipated offering for our visitors who will now be able to enjoy Haigh’s delicious seasonal ranges and popular classics as part of their premium shopping experience.” Established in 1915 and still run by the fourth generation of the Haigh family, Haigh’s is Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate maker, employing over 900 people across 22 stores in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. Source: CALLIE Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Melbourne bakery Penny for Pound has teamed up with Axil Coffee, the roaster behind two World Barista Championships, for a limited-edition Easter release. The Easter collaboration brings together Penny for Pound’s baking and Axil Coffee’s Seasonal Espresso blend to launch the Mocha Cross Bun – A rich treat filled with a silky espresso ganache made with couverture milk chocolate and freshly pulled espresso shots. Hot Cross Mel-bun Founded by Matilda Smith and Ben Wilson, Penny for Pound has three Melbourne locations: Moorabbin, Camberwell and Richmond. The broader Easter range at the bakery runs from March 2 to April 6 and includes: The Traditional Hot Cross Bun – Earl Grey-soaked raisins, currants, sultanas, orange zest and cinnamon, baked into Penny for Pound’s take on the seasonal classic. The Hot Cross-ant – A flaky croissant filled with cinnamon and orange-spiced almond frangipane and traditional fruit, somewhere between a hot cross bun and a proper pastry. The Choc Caramello Croissant – A chocolate caramel filling wrapped in flaky croissant pastry. Available on weekends only. The Carrot Cake Croissant – All the warm, fragrant goodness of a carrot cake, baked into croissant form. Available on weekends only. The Mocha Cross Bun is available daily in-store at all Penny for Pound and Axil Coffee locations, with pre-orders open for pick-up on April 2, 4 and 5 from select Axil Coffee stores. Orders close March 31 at 1 pm. Source: Theory Crew Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Australian food and beverage manufacturers closed 2025 with their strongest quarter on record, new data shows. According to Unleashed‘s latest Manufacturing Health Index, which tracks more than 500 Australian firms, beverage manufacturers averaged $627k in revenue in the final quarter of 2025. Food manufacturers weren’t far behind, averaging $709,831 for the same period, a big jump from $546,229 at the same time the year before. Reading the numbers Beverage makers also saw their profit margins climb to 35.9%, up from 27.8% in the same quarter last year. Across the board, Australian food and drink firms held steady with 5.1% sales growth and profit margins of 38.47%, while many households continued to feel the broader pressure of rising living costs. Unleashed Head of Product Jarrod Adam says the holiday period was a key driver. “The holiday period provided a vital boost for lifestyle-focused manufacturers. It’s a clear indicator that despite broader cost-of-living pressures, there is still resilient demand for high-quality, Australian-made consumer goods.” Buying smart, not big Interestingly, Australian manufacturers aren’t sitting on mountains of stock. Unlike their counterparts in the UK and New Zealand, who stocked up heavily, local firms kept inventory lean while ramping up purchasing by 22%, essentially buying only what they need as orders come in. Delivery lead times also came in at 17 days for the quarter, well below where they sat throughout 2024. “Australian businesses are moving quickly,” says Adam. “The disconnect we’re seeing between lower stock levels and higher purchase values suggests a move toward just-in-time replenishment. Firms aren’t sitting on mountains of cash tied up in inventory; they are buying precisely what they need to meet immediate demand.” What’s next The picture for 2026 is less rosy. The RBA raised interest rates to 3.85% in February, with another potential hike flagged for later this month. Inflation is expected to peak at around 4.2% by mid-2026 before easing back toward 2.5% by mid-2028. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East adds further uncertainty, with rising energy costs likely to squeeze supply chains and margins. Many manufacturers are already investing in automation and data tools to try to keep a lid on costs. “The challenge for 2026 is productivity,” says Adam. “Manufacturers must leverage technology to manage these tighter cycles and ensure they have the visibility required to avoid stockouts during demand spikes, without sacrificing the lean efficiency they’ve worked so hard to achieve.” *The Manufacturing Health Index assesses SME manufacturer performance via a big-data approach. Drawing on anonymised, aggregated transactions from Unleashed-using manufacturers in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, the dataset tracks sales revenue, gross margin percentage, purchase orders, lead times, and stock volumes. Source: Ponder PR Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.