By Eugene Visione, Chair Sustainability, Foodservice Association Australia (FSAA) and Head of Sales & Marketing at Birch & Waite

As the voice of Australia’s foodservice supply chain, the Foodservice Association Australia (FSAA) continues to play a vital role in representing our members on the key issues shaping our industry. The past few months have seen a focus on government consultation and policy engagement, with FSAA participating in a number of regulatory discussions that could have far reaching implications for foodservice suppliers.

Working alongside peak bodies such as the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and the National Retail Association (NRA), the FSAA has amplified the sector’s collective voice, ensuring the needs and perspectives of foodservice businesses are not overlooked in broader regulatory reform efforts.

Key Areas of Focus:

1. APCO Fee Model Proposal
FSAA has been involved in stakeholder consultations concerning the proposed Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) fee model. The FSAA’s role has been to assess the potential impact on foodservice suppliers and advocate for a fair and transparent system that recognises the unique supply chain and packaging needs of our sector.

2. SA Advertising Restrictions
We’ve engaged with government representatives in SA regarding proposed restrictions on advertising certain food and beverage products. Our submission highlighted the potential consequences for small and medium sized foodservice operators and the importance of evidence based policy that balances public health goals with commercial realities.

3. Packaging Regulations Reform – DCCEEW
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is undertaking a broad reform of national packaging regulations. FSAA has been closely monitoring developments, contributing to consultations and roundtables to ensure that any new framework accounts for the operational realities of foodservice supply – from logistics to customer usage patterns.

4. NSW & SA Single Use Plastics Bans Proposals
With proposals for additional bans on single use plastics in both NSW and SA, FSAA has been proactive in gathering feedback from our members and submitting formal responses. Our involvement includes participation in industry roundtables, as well as direct discussions with state environmental protection agencies to advocate for workable timelines, clarity on exemptions and access to viable alternative materials.

A Collaborative Approach

Across all of these issues FSAA has embraced a collaborative strategy. By working with likeminded industry bodies, we’ve strengthened our influence and presented a united front to policymakers. At the same time FSAA has drawn on the invaluable insights of our members - many of whom have generously contributed their time, expertise and feedback through surveys, forums and individual consultations.

This approach ensures our advocacy is not only strategic but grounded in the realworld challenges and opportunities faced by foodservice suppliers every day.

Looking ahead

As regulation in areas such as sustainability, packaging and advertising continues to evolve, the FSAA remains committed to being a strong and proactive advocate for the foodservice industry. We encourage all members to stay engaged, share their views and participate in future consultations.

Thank you to all those who have contributed to these efforts—we’re proud to represent you.

For more information or to get involved in our advocacy work, please contact us at mconstan@fsaa.org.au

Update from John Hart, FSAA Chair Policy & Advocacy

john haRT OAM, FSAA’S CHAIR OF ADVOCACY AND POLICY

May 2025 has been quite a month. The return of the Albanese Government with a sweeping victory, a new cabinet and, after a month, a Shadow Cabinet. This dynamic changes the game for the Australian foodservice sector and the supply chain that supports it.

Two of the important Ministers with whom we interact have changed. Senator the Hon Tim Ayres has been sworn in as the Minister for Industry and Innovation. Senator Ayres is well known to the sector as he was Assistant Minister to the Trade Minister and has a deep interest in the food sector. Dr Anne Aly has been sworn in as the Minister for Small Business.

“The opportunity is to ensure that the food sector is prioritised within an economy-wide industry policy”

The Government is to be congratulated on the resounding victory. There is no doubt that the Government will consider this result to be a validation of their approach in the first term, from 2022 to 2025. While there are parts of the policy agenda in this term that we, as businesses, would not agree with, we must recognise the Government’s mandate and work with the mandate to achieve positive outcomes in the next three years.

The two key areas of opportunity relate to productivity and industry policy. On productivity, during the election campaign the Treasurer spoke about the importance of lifting productivity. This is a positive for business. We need to be able to capture this commitment and translate it into greater supply chain efficiency, engaging technologies that increase output for the foodservice sector. On industry policy, the opportunity is to ensure that the food sector is prioritised within an economy-wide industry policy.

“The foodservice sector results for the first quarter in 2025 show two per cent greater turnover than the year prior”

The foodservice sector results for the first quarter in 2025 show two per cent greater turnover for the period than the year prior. This truly shows the resilience of the industry. While there are winners and losers, the overall result still shows growth. Let’s all hope that this growth continues and the policies of the second term Albanese Government will help the foodservice sector to build on this growth with some growth in underlying profitability.