Carlton Draught is asking Victorians to name the pub they reckon deserves a permanent place on the side of Abbotsford Brewery. The statewide search for Victoria’s Most Legendary Pub will see one venue added to the brewery’s South Audley Street mural, which stretches more than 60 metres and already features figures from sport, music, comedy, television and film, including Jonathan Brown and G Flip. “Victoria’s pubs have a special way of becoming part of the stories we tell about our lives. They’re the places where friendships are forged, traditions are passed down and everyone seems to know your name,” said Jessica Johnson, Carlton Draught Marketing Manager. “With this search, we want to shine a light on the pubs that have become true icons in their communities, and the publicans, bartenders and locals who give them their character. “There are thousands of pubs across Victoria, but only one can claim the title of Victoria’s Most Legendary Pub. We can’t wait to see which pub Victorians believe deserves a permanent place on the Abbotsford Brewery mural, alongside some of the state’s most iconic and celebrated figures. “We’re inviting Victorians to come down and experience this incredible piece of art for themselves, and put their knowledge of Victoria to the test by seeing how many of the legendary figures on the wall they can name.” The winning venue will receive its own section of the mural, with its façade, publican and local characters potentially painted into the artwork. The person behind the winning nomination will join them on the wall too, giving one pub regular a fairly permanent reward for backing their local. “Whether it’s where you watch the footy, catch up with mates or celebrate life’s big moments, pubs are woven into the fabric of Victorian life,” Brown said. “It’s great to see the people and places that make our pub culture so special being recognised in such a unique way.” “When I’m asked what I miss the most about living away from Australia my honest answer is family, friends and Carlton Draught. I grew up with my dad and family members drinking Carlton and it reminds me of going to footy games, going to the pub with mates, holiday celebrations and it reminds me of home. I’m honoured to be included in this lineup of legends in this mural and to be involved with the celebration of Carlton Draught,” G Flip said. The winning pub will also receive bonus kegs of Carlton Draught to celebrate with its community, while the person behind the best entry will score a year’s supply of Carlton and a $200 Carlton merch voucher. Victorians can nominate any pub in the state by explaining in 50 words or less why it deserves the title. That could be the local packed out for every footy final, the pub that has hosted half the suburb’s birthdays or simply the place where the staff already know who is ordering what. Mongolian-Australian muralist and fine artist Heesco painted the existing work, which measures 8.8 metres high and 60.8 metres wide. “The mural was designed to capture the people, places and stories that make Victoria unique,” Heesco said. “Every face on this mural tells a story. It’s been a privilege bringing together people from different industries and walks of life who have each left their mark on Victoria’s culture.” Nominations close on November 2 and can be submitted through Carlton Draught’s website. The Abbotsford Brewery mural can be found at 24 South Audley Street, Abbotsford, Victoria. Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

After decades in school canteens and on junior sports sidelines, MILO is stepping onto a bigger stage as an official NBA partner in Australia and New Zealand. From 2027, the partnership will cover fan experiences, retail promotions and youth basketball programs across both markets. The local deal sits inside a wider multi-year agreement between Nestlé and the NBA, which will also see NESQUIK and NESCAU become official partners in other countries. “Sport has a unique ability to bring people together. It creates moments of connection, builds confidence and teaches young people valuable life skills that extend far beyond the court. At MILO, we’ve proudly supported Australian families for generations through our commitment to encouraging participation in sport and active lifestyles,” said Martin Brown, Nestlé General Manager Dairy & Beverages. “That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the NBA, not only globally for scale of impact, but on the ground in Australia and New Zealand, to delight local fans.” “Together, we share a belief in the power of sport to inspire, unite and uplift young people – socially and emotionally. Through this partnership, we hope to create memorable basketball experiences that help Aussie teens feel connected, supported and empowered to get involved, build resilience and discover the joy of the game. We can’t wait to stir-up conversations surrounding NBA, while fans stir up their glass of MILO.” The partnership will reach a number of existing basketball programs, including Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, NBA Basketball School, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Academies, Her Time To Play and NBA 3X. It will also extend to selected NBA events and fan platforms, including NBA Global Games and NBA House. “Nestlé is one of the world’s most recognisable brands and has a longstanding connection to consumers across the globe. We look forward to leveraging Nestlé’s reach and local market presence to connect with fans in new ways and support the continued growth of basketball around the world,” said Julie Morris, NBA Senior Vice President of Commercial Development and Media. Globally, the agreement will activate across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. The Philippines will join from October 2027. The MILO and NBA partnership begins in Australia and New Zealand on January 1, 2027. Source: Ogilvy PR Find more food culture updates on Crumb Wire.

After building a following across the US and UK, frozen fruit snack Trü Frü has finally landed in Australia. The Mars-owned brand takes whole pieces of fruit, coats them in two layers of chocolate and freezes them, sitting somewhere between a chocolate snack and something pulled straight from the freezer fruit drawer. Three flavours are launching nationally: Strawberries in White & Milk Chocolate – whole strawberries coated in white and milk chocolate. Raspberries in White & Dark Chocolate – frozen raspberries coated in white and dark chocolate. Piña Colada – pineapple with white chocolate and coconut flavour. Part of Trü Frü’s appeal overseas has come from social media, where the brand has picked up plenty of attention on TikTok and helped turn chocolate-covered frozen fruit into a recognisable snack format rather than a DIY freezer hack. “Trü Frü has already gone viral on TikTok across the US and UK, so we’ve been watching Australians discover it online and asking the same question: when can we get our hands on it? Well, the wait is officially over,” said Emma Dobson, ANZ Market Director for Accelerator (Mars Snacking). “Summer, and Aussie freezers, are about to get very, very fruity.” The fruit is picked ripe before being coated and hyper chilled, which the brand says helps lock in flavour and nutrition. For Australian shoppers, the bigger draw is probably the novelty of finding something like this in the supermarket freezer aisle rather than making it at home. It is sweet, cold, fruit-based and easy to eat straight from the bag, which is likely why the format has travelled so well. Trü Frü is now available in the frozen food aisles at Coles, Woolworths and selected independent retailers for RRP $13. Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Gerardo “Gerry” Macip has spent years building tequila bars and Mexican restaurants across Sydney. Now he and his wife, Harriet, have brought that experience closer to home with Retro Cronulla. The 150-seat restaurant and bar brings together the best of Mexican food, Neapolitan-style pizza, and one of The Shire’s biggest tequila and mezcal selections. The Macips are locals, but Gerry’s connection to Mexican food and hospitality started much earlier. He grew up in Mexico City before moving to Australia in the 1990s and began his hospitality career behind the bar at Vivaz in The Rocks. Since then, he has built a portfolio of nine venues including Calaveras Mexican Cantina and Tequila Bar and, more recently, Run Dos Run on Enmore Road, which was named among Australia’s Top 10 Tequila Bars in 2025. Retro takes some of that agave knowledge south without simply recreating Run Dos Run. Tequila and mezcal are a major part of the bar, while the kitchen splits its attention between Mexican dishes and Neapolitan-style pizzas. “When opening Retro, our first concept was the bar. With extensive knowledge of agave spirits, we knew that having the biggest range of tequilas and mezcals in The Shire would be the centre focus of our venue,” said Macip. The Quesabirria Tacos come with slow-cooked beef folded into crisp, cheesy tortillas and birria consommé made with imported Mexican chillies and traditional spices. Elsewhere, the menu includes wood-fired bread, guacamole with lime and pico de gallo, corn ribs with chipotle mayo, parmesan and parsley and taquitos filled with pulled chicken and spices. Italian chef Alberto Facci helped develop the pizza menu, using 48-hour fermented Biga dough cooked in a custom red MAMforni rotating oven imported from Italy and assembled on site. The pizzas range from Margherita and Diavola to a Tequila BBQ Chicken. The drinks list is less restrained. The Spicy Mango mixes tequila, agave, lime, fresh mango, mango gelato and habanero, while the Messina Espresso Martini uses Messina dulce de leche. There is also an Apple Pie cocktail, a riff on an apple-tini with a Fireball finish. Retro stretches across an indoor dining room and two outdoor balconies, with room for 150 guests. The format shifts across the week, keeping things easy for family dinners and casual meals before turning louder on Fridays and weekends. “What I love about Retro is the way its personality evolves. It can be relaxed, welcoming and family-friendly, then as the weekend approaches, everything shifts. Friday and weekend lunches bring the fun with bottomless food and drinks, and by night the DJs are on, the cocktails are flowing and Retro really comes alive,” said Macip. A 90-minute bottomless lunch runs on weekends for $99 per person, while DJs take over later in the evening. Kids aged 12 and under dine free every Sunday. Retro can be found at 1 McDonald St, Cronulla NSW 2230. Source: Curated Agency Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.