A decade-long passion project from inspiration and award-winning business leader, Fiona Harrison, Chocolate on Purpose is made f

Between 2019 and 2021, Australia's population growth halved; foreign students abandoned by governments, they in turn abandoned Australia.  The loss of 200,000 people in their 20s has been most keenly felt in hospitality and retail, and whilst governments focus on skilled immigration, this cohort will largely remain lost. Not only did young people move away from Australia, the ones that stayed moved away from CBDs, as Millenials moved into parenthood that accompanies their 30s. Hospitality, according to the R&CA, is 100,000 staff short, and venues of all kinds will have to turn to innovative ways to solve the staffing dilemma 

In 1992, in a quiet Tasmanian household, a first single malt whisky was produced, with no fanfare, or celebration. It was the first single malt spirit legally produced in Australia for 154 years. In 1998, after nearly a decade of curiosity and experimentation, Bill Lark released Lark Distillery's Single Malt Whisky commercially. 30 years later, The Still, on Argyle St, a finalist in 2022's Best Bar awards, guides dram drinkers through tastings, whisky appreciation evenings, and tours, and an extensive Tasmanian whisky collection in a contemporary and stunningly beautiful venue, celebrating what began as an idea so long ago. 

Beginning as a dedicated cheese truck, Splatters Cheese Bar, where you can "cheese your own adventure" has Australia's only

Family-owned and operated since 1977, Sharp's Bakery in the tiny town of Birchip, in regional Victoria (300km North-West of Melbourne) has won the 2022 award for "Australia's best Vanilla Slice"The population of under 1,000 often share their picture perfect little town with outsiders, some who are prepared to drive over 4 hours just to taste the perfect slice.As John F. said in his review (yesterday), his only regret from his 4.5hour drive to Birchip, was he had only one slice each (Due to demand slices have to be reserved).www.facebook.com/SharpsBakeryBirchip

In a move that would make Al Capone blush, retail giant Dan Murphy's has turned its hand to hospitality, opening it's Hampton Street, Melbourne, Zero% bar - a bar with 30 cocktails, and 300 products, all either without alcohol, or ultra low in it. It's an emerging market, just 1000th the size of the alcohol market, but with 43% of drinkers wanting to reduce their drinking without reducing their enjoyment of a drink, Zero% shows them how. Could this trend also help hospitality, whose lunch trade suffers from a low average spend?