Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, the state’s top pubs win national awards, a leading submarine manufacturer signs a new deal and a new social housing development is announced. Plus, the latest business events.
- Joint winners at William Buck Impact Awards
- SA hospitality leaders awarded on national level
- Elders profits rise despite ‘dry conditions’
- Submarine company signs deal with US shipbuilder
- Hampers raise funds for the homeless
- New development to bolster affordable housing
- Biomedical research gets a boost
Joint winners at William Buck Impact Awards
Neutrog Australia and Novafast have taken out top honours at this year’s William Buck Impact Awards, which recognise SA companies and business leaders that impact the global market.
Announced as joint winners, the companies were awarded for their innovation, growth and contribution to the state’s economy.
Neutrog is one SA’s largest premium organic and biological fertiliser producers and supports sustainable agriculture globally, while Novafast is an advanced manufacturer of composite equipment for energy, marine, water and defence sectors around the globe, with products ranging from pipelines to naval applications.
“The innovation among these South Australian businesses is of the highest level and points to a very positive future for our local industry and state,” William Buck Impact Awards director Seth Thuraisingham said.
Full list of winners:
- 2025 William Buck Impact Award (Joint Winners): Neutrog Australia, Novafast
- Dark Horse Award: Southern Launch
- Innovation Award: Humanihut
- CEO Institute Scholarship: Emma Crosby, Consunet
- SA Leaders Executive leaders Series Scholarship: David Figallo, Novafast
- Australian Centre for Business Growth Scholarship: Angus Irwin, Neutrog
SA hospitality leaders awarded on national level
SA venues and chefs have won major awards at this year’s AHA National Awards for Excellence held in front of more than 600 industry leaders and VIP guests on the Gold Coast last week.
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The Arkaba Hotel was awarded the prestigious Metropolitan Overall Hotel of the Year for the second year in a row.
The Fullarton hotel was also awarded the Best Entertainment Venue, which followed the $12 million renovation to its dining areas, Top of the Ark function space and live sports bar in 2023.
Loxton Hotel took out the top prize for Regional Overall Hotel of the Year after the venue did extensive redevelopment to include a modernised bar and new beer garden.
Adelaide chef Brendan Boothroyd was named Australia’s Chef of the Year for his innovative and diverse menus and sustainable leadership where he had significantly reduced kitchen waste across Duxton Pubs venues.
Boothroyd is group executive chef for Duxton where he creates menus for more than 20 venues across SA, including the Alma Tavern and The Lion Hotel.
“Tonight’s winners show why Australian hospitality is the benchmark: welcoming, hardworking and deeply community-minded venues,” AHA national president David Basheer said.
Elders profits rise despite ‘dry conditions’
Listed agribusiness Elders reported earnings of $142.5 million – up $15.3 million – in FY25, with the company noting it “demonstrated strong operational and financial resilience in the face of mixed seasonal conditions”.
The company said its portfolio, “through its national geographic footprint and multi-product offering, played a key role in mitigating the impact of dry conditions across key regions, with stronger activity in livestock and real estate supporting overall results”.
Profit after tax was $50.3 million, while sales grew $70.4 million to $3.2 billion.
Elders said it was optimistic about FY26, “supported by a forecast from dry conditions… as well as the commencement of benefits following implementation of our new retail system”.
Submarine company signs deal with US shipbuilder
Australian submarine company ASC and shipbuilder Austal USA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on additive manufacturing to strengthen Australia’s sovereign naval capability.
The partnership would advance the use of 3D printing for shipbuilding and submarine sustainment and support the Collins-class and US-built Virginia Class submarines.
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ASC, which is headquartered in Osborne, signed the MoU with Austal at the 2025 Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition which would support workforce development through training and upskilling in advanced manufacturing technologies.
“Additive manufacturing offers transformative potential for Australia’s maritime industry — enabling faster production, improved part performance, and greater flexibility in shipbuilding, maintenance and sustainment,” ASC chief capability officer Danielle Bull said.
Hampers raise funds for the homeless
Credit Union SA has partnered with one of Adelaide’s most popular Italian restaurant Lucia’s to release limited edition hampers for its Partnership for Purpose initiative.
The new initiative would see both Credit Union SA and Lucia’s donate to St John’s Youth Services – an SA not-for-profit organisation that supports young people experiencing homelessness – each time a customer purchases a special Lucia’s hamper.
The hampers contain products such as tomato sauce, a range of soups, salsa and a special Partnership for Purpose magnet.
“Partnering with Lucia’s allows us to give back in a meaningful way and help those who need it most during the holiday season, including those at St John’s Youth Services,” Credit Union SA CEO Todd Roberts said.
New development to bolster affordable housing
Junction is set to build a $53.6 million housing and services hub in Salisbury which would create 69 new social homes within a six-storey building.
Thrive Salisbury would feature 37 one-bedroom and 32 two-bedroom apartments for social housing, with construction expected to commence mid-2026 for a late 2028 delivery date.
The project is funded by Housing Australia through the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility which is designed to increase supply of social and affordable housing across the country.
“This is about creating opportunities for individuals and families to access safe, secure housing and build stronger futures,” Housing Australia CEO Scott Langford said.
Biomedical research gets a boost
MTPConnect is set to continue its Adelaide Intermediary Program (AIP) for three more years to support the state’s health innovation ecosystem of researchers, startups, scale-ups, enterprises and investors.
The state government provided a further $1.8 million in funding over the next three years through the Research and Innovation Fund.
Since 2022, MTPConnect served as an intermediary for biomedical research companies to promote SA’s capabilities and build international connections.
To date, the AIP has facilitated 947 strategic business connections and attracted $125.5 million in funding.
“By investing into South Australian biomedical research, we support new collaborations and provide more opportunities, which ultimately lead to greater outcomes,” Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Joe Szakacs said.
