Diversified Australia has launched FoodTech Sydney, a new trade event focused on advanced food manufacturing, production technology and sustainable operations, with the inaugural event set to take place at ICC Sydney on 17 and 18 August 2027.
Announced during foodpro 2026 in Melbourne, the event is designed to serve New South Wales, which Diversified Australia identifies as Australia’s second-largest food manufacturing market. The organiser said NSW has not previously had a dedicated, locally hosted event focused on the sector.
FoodTech Sydney will cover five areas: advanced processing and automation; intelligent and digital factories; ingredients and additives; food science, quality and testing; and packaging technology and materials.
Diversified Australia said the event will focus on manufacturers that are evaluating, integrating and implementing technologies, rather than those in the initial discovery stage.
“NSW manufacturers told us the same thing consistently: they were ready to act, but there was no event built for where they actually are in the buying cycle,” said Louise Brooks, Event Director at Diversified Australia. “FoodTech Sydney is that event — specialist, held locally, and focused on implementation, not browsing.”
The organiser said research involving more than 200 industry stakeholders found that 74.7% of manufacturers identified return on investment and cost confidence as the primary barrier to adopting new technology.
According to Diversified Australia, the event’s demonstration-led format will aim to address this concern by allowing visitors to assess technology through live demonstrations, operator-led case studies and discussions focused on commercial and operational outcomes.
Several companies, including Oestegaard, Contech, Gelita and Visy, committed to the inaugural event during its launch at foodpro 2026, the organiser said.
FoodTech Sydney will form part of Diversified Australia’s national food manufacturing event portfolio, alongside foodpro Melbourne in 2026 and 2029 and FoodTech QLD Brisbane in 2028.
“foodpro secures the sale. FoodTech Sydney maximises the investment,” Brooks said. “With FoodTech QLD to follow, exhibitors now have a continuous, three-market conversation with the industry — they’re not repeating themselves each year, they’re advancing the relationship.”
Diversified Australia said FoodTech Sydney is targeting more than 100 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors for its 2027 event.
