31 Aug - 3 Sep 2026 | MCEC Melbourne

Industry News

Tonka’s recently-appointed head chef, Kay-Lene Tan, believes that adaptability is the key to success in a post-pandemic kitchen.
While these strange days have seen businesses close their doors, others have weathered lockdown through creative redirection of their businesses, and thrived in these unsettling times. Here’s an optimistic look at our food scene of the future.
There’s nothing like a pandemic to deliver an opportunity to assess some of hospitality’s pain points and to treasure the aspects that give the food world heart and soul.
Owner of The Left Handed Chef in South Melbourne, Ehud Malka’s Shabbat Boxes are helping to unite families and friends who are unable to congregate in person on culturally significant days of the week.

Throughout the last few months, we have worked hard consulting the market and shaping an event that would be tailored to every food business’ needs post-shutdowns in a COVID-19 safe environment. Every industry has had its own struggles, with our own food industry being hit HARD. Due to the escalating

Finding creative ways to make essential sanitising part of the hospitality experience.
An acclaimed Italian restaurant with 13 locations across the globe, 400 Gradi – which won “worlds best pizza” in 2014 – wasn’t able to fit patrons in their restaurants amid COVID-19 restrictions.
We spoke to industry professionals about their experiences during the covid shutdown, how they have adapted to the new restrictions and their thoughts on the future of the hospitality industry.
We talk to industry professionals about their experiences during the covid shutdown, how they have adapted to the new restrictions and their thoughts on the future of the hospitality industry.