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Australian Food and Drink News: What’s New, Coming Soon and Worth Trying
The latest bites, bottles and buzzy launches worth adding to your radar, from cult-favourite comebacks to the next big thing in food and drink.
Australia’s food and drink scene is always giving us something new to look forward to, from cult-favourite pastry drops and nostalgic comebacks to new sips, wine launches and festivals worth putting in the diary. Here, we’re keeping tabs on the latest Australian food and drink news, rounding up the openings, releases, collaborations and limited-edition treats worth knowing about, wherever you are in the country.
In This Guide
The Latest Food and Drink News in Australia
Messina’s Cult Christmas Dessert Is Back, and This Year It’s All About Chocolate
If last year’s Gelato Messina Christmas drop was anything to go by, you’ll want to be quick with this one. The annual festive trifle has become something of a festive institution, selling out in minutes, and this year it’s getting a chocolate-heavy makeover. Enter the Christmas Coma: Get Baked Edition, inspired by Bertha, the cult-favourite cake from UK bakery Get Baked. Expect layers of dark chocolate cake, signature milk and dark chocolate ganache, and a generous scattering of sprinkles.
The $190 pack also includes a bottle of Milo whisky custard, extra Get Baked sprinkles and a Messina cooler bag, with enough to serve 20 to 30. Pre-orders open at 12pm on November 4, with collection available from December 18 to 24. Consider this your early warning.
Where: Pick up in store
When: Pre-orders open 12pm Wednesday 4 November 2026, collection Friday 18 to Thursday 24 December 2026
Need To Know: Last year’s Christmas dessert sold out in minutes, so set a reminder for pre-orders.
New & Upcoming Openings in Australia
Florence’s Cult Sandwich Shop Is Opening in Australia
If you’ve been to Florence, you’ve probably come across All’Antico Vinaio. The sandwich shop has become something of an institution, drawing queues for its generously filled schiacciata, layered with Tuscan meats, cheeses and house-made spreads. It’s not uncommon for the team to serve thousands over a single weekend. And now, you don’t need to travel all the way to Italy to try one. All’Antico Vinaio has landed in Sydney, opening on Pitt Street in Circular Quay. We have a feeling the queues will speak for themselves.
Where: Circular Quay, Sydney
When: Now open
Need To Know: Expect queues.
Sweet Nostalgia! Sizzler is Making a Comeback
Remember those endless salad bars, sizzling steaks, and soft-serve runs from the ’90s? Same.
When Sizzler closed back in 2020, it marked the end of an era, particularly as the beloved buffet outlet was a hallmark childhood memory for many of us. In amazing news, Minor Hotels will bring back Sizzler at the new NH Collection Hotel at Sydney Airport later this year. Better yet, there’s already talk of expansion, with rumoured plans to roll the brand out Australia-wide.
In the meantime, Sydney can bask in the knowledge that the sweet taste of nostalgia isn’t far off. We hope this new iteration keeps the retro vibes and generous portions, and we’ll see you there for a slice of that incredible cheese toast.
Where: NH Collection Hotel Sydney Airport
When: Expected 2026
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New Food & Drink Launches in Australia
The New Loco Love Chocolates We’re All Obsessing Over
Loco Love has added two new flavours to its chocolate collection. One is rich, nutty and a little unexpected. The other tastes like a nostalgic after-dinner treat. Both are worth obsessing over.
First up, Black Sesame & Date, which combines a sticky Medjool date and black sesame centre with real vanilla bean, all wrapped in Loco Love’s dark chocolate. It’s earthy, softly sweet and deeply nutty, with the dates bringing a natural caramel-like sweetness to the mix.The other new addition is Peppermint Cookie Crunch, which takes cool peppermint chocolate and adds crisp chocolate cookie pieces for a nostalgic hit. There’s organic mulberry leaf in the blend too, but we’re mostly here for that creamy-meets-crunchy combination.
As always, both are made with organic, ethically sourced cacao and wholefood ingredients, and are gluten and dairy free, with no palm or seed oils. The new flavours launch nationally on 27 September via Loco Love and selected stockists, so consider this your advance warning to make some room in the chocolate drawer.
Where: Loco Love online and selected stockists nationwide
When: Available from Sunday 27 September 2026
Two of Our Favourite Worlds Just Collided
We all know that a new Yo-Chi topping is basically adult Christmas, but a new Yo-Chi topping that involves beloved natural sweet brand Funday? Well, dreams do come true. The collab sees three flavours hitting Yo-Chi stores nationwide — yuzu, lychee and peach, and yes, they’re vegan-friendly. As if we were not already obsessed, each gummy has been custom-moulded into the shape of the Yo-Chi bear.
Where: Yo-Chi stores nationwide
When: Limited time only
Sodaly Launch Three New Fruit Flavours
Our new spring sip is officially sorted thanks to the launch of Sodaly’s three new fruity flavours. Joining the already popular prebiotic soft drink range are Tropic, Strawberry and Grapefruit. The range has changed the fizzy drink game, delivering big on flavour and fizz without the sugar or artificial ingredients. Think bright, juicy Tropic with passionfruit, orange and crisp apple; sweet and summery Strawberry; and zingy, bittersweet Grapefruit. Each can has just eight calories, with no sugar and a hit of prebiotic goodness—making them an easy addition to your spring drinks rotation.
Where: Woolworths and online at Remedy
When: Available now
The Mudcake You Know and Love Is Now Gluten-Free
If there’s one cake that can transport you straight back to a childhood birthday party, it’s a supermarket mudcake. From August 24, there’ll be a gluten-free slice of the nostalgia, too. Woolworths is rolling out its first Free From Gluten Chocolate Mudcake nationwide, bringing that familiar dense, fudgy chocolate hit without the wheat flour. Made with a blend of gluten-free alternatives, the $10 cake is joining the permanent bakery lineup alongside the Chocolate, White Chocolate and Caramel classics.
Where: Woolworths stores nationwide
When: Available from Monday 24 August 2026
Four Pillars Has a Peachy New Gin Incoming
Four Pillars has a juicy new drop, and it feels made for the peach Bellini set. The distillery’s Three Peach Gin brings together three peach varieties with green apple, finger lime, vanilla and roasted almond, landing somewhere between stone-fruit spritz and long-lunch aperitivo.
It is listed at $82 a bottle, with Four Pillars already steering it towards Bellinis, soda serves and sparkling cocktails.
Where: Available online and selected stockists
When: Available now
M&S Food is Officially Landing in Coles
A little taste of the UK has made its way to Coles, with a handful of much-loved Marks & Spencer treats now hitting shelves. Percy Pig Phizzy Pigtails and Piglets, Colin the Caterpillar Cola Gums and Colin the Caterpillar Party Time will all be available for $6 a bag. Select stores will also stock M&S favourites including Scottish Shortbread, Luxury Gold Tea Bags and The Original Very Moreish Munch Tin. No need to squeeze a few bags into your suitcase on your next trip.
Where: Coles stores nationwide
When: Available now
Need To Know: Scottish Shortbread, Luxury Gold Tea Bags and The Original Very Moreish Munch Tin are stocked at select stores only.
Yo-Chi Goes Sustainable
Yo‑Chi x KeepCup Go Bowls has landed — now with tinted dome lids inspired by your fave flavours. These reusable beauties are cute, sustainable and score you 10% off every time you bring one in (the Yo-Chi team will even rinse it for you). No dishes, no drama. Available now at Yo‑Chi venues and online.
Where: Yo-Chi stores and online
When: Available now
Need To Know: Bring your Go Bowl in for 10% off every order.
Food & Drink Awards & Events
The $25 Shiraz That Sold Out in 48 Hours Is Back
When a $25 McLaren Vale Shiraz was named the world’s best at the 2026 International Wine Challenge, Australia reacted accordingly: more than 5,000 cartons of Beresford Classic Shiraz 2023 disappeared in 48 hours. Now, the 2024 vintage has landed. Made from the same vineyards and growers, it runs through vibrant red and darker fruits, fine tannins and a long finish, and crucially, the price hasn’t moved.
Where: Dan Murphy’s, Beresford Estate and selected independent bottle shops nationwide
When: Available now
Australia’s Best Whiskies, According to the World’s Toughest Judges
Australia’s whisky scene has just been handed global bragging rights. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has named its latest Best in Class winners, and four Australian distilleries are officially worth the pilgrimage. Leading the pack is Callington Mill Distillery, crowned Best in Class for its Pedro Ximenez expression, crafted in Oatlands and now poured at its Hobart outpost inside MACq01.
NSW follows closely with Wollongong’s Headlands Distilling Co., stunning judges with its Illawarra Plum Cask Whisky, and Archie Rose Distilling Co. continue to dominate thanks to its Single Malt Whisky, while Melbourne’s own Starward scored two standout single-barrel wins (Captain’s Pick #2 and Single Barrel #8193).
World-class whisky, no passport required.
Where: Callington Mill Distillery (Oatlands and Hobart), Headlands Distilling Co. (Wollongong), Archie Rose Distilling Co., Starward (Melbourne)
When: Announced in June 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About Australian Food & Drink News
Gelato Messina releases a limited Christmas dessert each year, and it is sold through pre-orders. In 2026, the Christmas Coma: Get Baked Edition is inspired by Bertha, the chocolate cake from UK bakery Get Baked, and costs $190 for a pack serving 20 to 30. Pre-orders open at 12pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026, with collection in store from Friday 18 to Thursday 24 December. Previous Christmas releases have sold out within minutes, so it pays to be online the moment pre-orders open and to have your preferred collection date ready.
All’Antico Vinaio’s Australian store is on Pitt Street in Circular Quay, Sydney. The sandwich shop began in Florence, where it became an institution known for long queues and generously filled schiacciata layered with Tuscan meats, cheeses and house-made spreads. It is not uncommon for the Florence team to serve thousands of customers over a single weekend. The Sydney store brings the same style of schiacciata to Australia, so there is no need for a trip to Italy to try one. Expect queues, as the shop’s reputation has followed it from Florence to Circular Quay.
Several Australian whiskies have been named among the world’s best at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which announced its Best in Class winners in June 2026. Callington Mill Distillery in Tasmania took Best in Class for its Pedro Ximenez expression, made in Oatlands and poured at its Hobart outpost inside MACq01. Headlands Distilling Co. in Wollongong was recognised for its Illawarra Plum Cask Whisky, Archie Rose Distilling Co. for its Single Malt Whisky, and Melbourne’s Starward for two single-barrel releases, Captain’s Pick #2 and Single Barrel #8193.
Yes. Sizzler is returning to Australia through Minor Hotels, which is bringing the restaurant back at the new NH Collection Hotel at Sydney Airport. The Australian Sizzler restaurants closed in 2020, ending an era for a childhood favourite known for its salad bar, steaks, soft serve and cheese toast. The Sydney Airport location is expected to open in 2026, though an exact opening date has not been confirmed. Further Australian locations have also not been confirmed, so Sydney is currently the only announced site for the brand’s return.
Yes. Coles now stocks a selection of Marks & Spencer food, so Australians no longer need to rely on friends bringing treats back from the UK. The range includes Percy Pig Phizzy Pigtails, Percy Pig Piglets, Colin the Caterpillar Cola Gums and Colin the Caterpillar Party Time, priced at $6 a bag. Select Coles stores also carry M&S Scottish Shortbread, Luxury Gold Tea Bags and The Original Very Moreish Munch Tin. Availability of the wider range varies by store, so check with your local Coles before making a special trip.
Our Sitchu editors work hard to deliver you the best products, events and venues that we hope you will love and each one is selected independently. Sitchu may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.
From clever new pours to cult snack drops and city-shaping launches, Australia’s food and drink scene is moving fast. We’ll be keeping tabs on what lands next, so check back soon for more news worth knowing, ordering and planning around.
