Food, beverage and catering

Food and beverage industry

Queensland has a diverse industry renowned for producing high-quality, safe and nutritious food and beverages at competitive prices.

Queensland's advantage lies in its internationally recognised strict biosecurity measures and food safety standards.

About the industry

The food and beverage supply chain in Queensland includes a mix of small, medium and large companies. These companies operate at each stage of the supply chain.

Queensland's food and beverage industry ranges from producers of fresh, natural and organic products to producers of manufactured foods, such as ready-made meals, confectionery, additives and nutritional supplements.

The industry is supported by produce from Queensland's extensive agriculture industry, including:

beef
seafood
grains
fruit
vegetables.

Queensland's biotechnology industry further supports the food and beverage industry by growing and manufacturing foods with enhanced nutritional and health benefits – these help to promote a better quality of life and longer life expectancy.

Key business areas

Fresh produce – fruit and vegetables, seafood and meat
Value-added foods – desserts and confectionery, dairy foods and ready-made meals.
Food processing – flour mills, canneries, packers, bakers, airline catering and pre-prepared meals
Beverage manufacturing – breweries, wine production and non-alcoholic drinks such as sports drinks
Retail and hospitality – supermarkets and convenience stores, grocers, delicatessens, restaurants, hotels, takeaways and cafés, catering for private functions, regular markets and stalls and retail bakeries
Health and community services – hospitals, childcare centres, nursing homes, hostels, meals on wheels and catering
Transport and distribution – warehouses, bulk food distribution centres, and dedicated transport and logistics centres.