SHIFT Supplier Showcases Bring Innovation to Life

Innovation and future thinking drive us at Compass Group Australia (CGA). We see it every day through new products, service models, technology and sustainability initiatives.

The same mindset is strengthened through our sole sourcing partner, Foodbuy, who connects our teams with the suppliers that help them do the best work. In May 2026, this came to life through the launch of SHIFT (Sustainable Hospitality Innovation & Future Trends), a national series of showcases that brought our people and suppliers together to explore what’s possible.

With curated suppliers, and attendees from across all areas of CGA operations, the pilot series kicked off in Melbourne, where our Levy team set the tone for the national rollout. From there, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney followed, with each showcase reflecting the local teams and supplier mix.

Each session combined short presentations led by Foodbuy with supplier showcases and ‘pod rotations’, where operators connected directly with suppliers through live demonstrations and practical discussions. Think a traditional trade show, but far more hands-on and interactive.

“What stood out across the SHIFT showcases was how quickly ideas moved from conversation into something practical. By bringing our teams and suppliers together, we were able to match operational opportunities with supplier solutions in real time, with a strong collaborative focus on improving efficiency and delivering better outcomes for our clients.” shares Toby Edmunds, ED – Foodbuy, DeltaFM & Omega. “For a pilot year, that’s exactly what we were looking to achieve. I’m looking forward to building on this in future years and continuing to translate innovation into tangible efficiencies for our clients.”

Toby Edmunds, ED – Foodbuy, DeltaFM & Omega speaks at SHIFT

This balance between structured sessions and hands-on engagement was intentional, giving teams context up front, but allowing plenty of time for exploring solutions in a practical, site-relevant way. Many of these interactions progressed into sampling, trials and follow-up actions in real time.

Early outcomes are already taking shape across our sites, from a PizzaBot trial at Gosford Hospital to the Flying Turtle extension at Melbourne & Olympic Parks, this activity marks a clear example of ideas turning into action.

With strong results in its first year, SHIFT has proven to be a scalable way to drive innovation across our business. A big thank you to our supplier partners for the energy you brought to each showcase, and to our Foodbuy and CGA teams for investing the time to engage. We’re looking forward to an even bigger SHIFT next year.