F+B Tech

New Zealand Apples & Pears Incorporated (NZAPI) has secured a seasoned horticulturist to deliver the Apple Action Plan, a key initiative of the India-New Zealand FTA.

Read more: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/10/02/lachlan-mckay-to-lead-apple-action-plan/

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden launched two new Approved Codes of Practice [ACOP] that outline practical steps businesses and workers can take to meet their health and safety responsibilities on farms.

Read more: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/10/01/new-acops-clarify-farm-health-safety/

KiwiRail reported a NZD 162 million operating surplus and an 11 percent growth in rail freight revenues in the financial year to the 30th of June 2026.

Rail freight volumes increased by three percent and total freight added up to 3.5 billion net tonne-kilometres.

https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/10/02/kiwirail-reports-growth-in-freight-revenue/

New IDC research commissioned by Diebold Nixdorf suggests retailers are increasingly evaluating automation through a different lens. The research found that 97 per cent of Australian retailers now link self-service directly to revenue growth, while 69 per cent of consumers now prefer self-service as a leading checkout option.

Read more: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/09/28/beyond-labour-savings-the-hidden-roi-of-automation/

"Nowadays, manufacturers want inspection systems to provide continuous information about their production, such as weight, the presence of foreign bodies, completeness, and packaging," said Colin Seddon, Managing Director of Wipotec Australia.

"Making that data available for analysis and optimisation is becoming crucial."

Read more: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/09/28/beyond-pass-or-fail-a-conversation-with-wipotec/

“AI is not arriving as one global system with one set of rules,” said Laurie Myers, CEO and Global Strategist of the Global Resilience Network.

“Travel cannot prepare for only one future. Resilience will depend on operating across competing ecosystems while protecting trust and human agency. Paris puts those futures side by side and asks what leaders must do now.”

Read more: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/09/29/five-competing-ai-futures-meet-in-paris/

The government is boosting support for wildlife care facilities because of their key role in New Zealand’s bird flu surveillance and response.

Read more: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/09/28/funding-boost-for-bird-flu-surveillance/

Flavour remains one of the strongest drivers of purchasing decisions in bakery.

Nostalgia is another big influence. Recognisable bakery and dessert flavours such as banana bread, cinnamon bun, cheesecake and cookie dough provide familiarity, while still leaving plenty of room for innovation

Read more from Australian flavour house Essential Flavours here: https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/09/28/flavour-innovation-takes-bakery-beyond-the-crust/

No one should be injured at work, whether by a one-off accident or an injury caused by the slow creep of repeated strain. inviol's mission is to help people get home safe every day by empowering people and reducing risk.

On October 23rd, inviol will be hosting a small “Lunch & Learn” session, walking through how manual handling works in inviol, and how teams can use it to protect their people.

Join in: de7d281e-9fb5-4fb9-8df0-0d88793eb870@c16fc6b2-ea4e-4434-bb64-2fe192e0a7f4?utm_campaign=429520347-Lunch%20%26%20Learn%20-%20Manual%20Handling&utm_source=supermarketnews&utm_medium=editorial" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/de7d281e-9fb5-4fb9-8df0-0d88793eb870@c16fc6b2-ea4e-4434-bb64-2fe192e0a7f4?utm_campaign=429520347-Lunch%20%26%20Learn%20-%20Manual%20Handling&utm_source=supermarketnews&utm_medium=editorial

The MIT Centre for Transportation & Logistics (MIT CTL) and Mecalux have launched the executive course Machine Learning & AI-Based Augmentation of Supply Chain Decision-Making.

https://www.fbtech.co.nz/2026/09/30/mit-x-mecalux-launch-executive-course-on-ai-for-supply-chain/