Zoono Group (ASX: ZNO) inks A$15m deal with Multisteps to deploy antimicrobial packaging in Australia

Zoono Group Limited (ASX: ZNO) has signed a binding five-year exclusive agreement with Australian packaging manufacturer Multisteps Pty Limited to deploy its antimicrobial shelf-life extension technology across the fresh produce segment in the Australian market. The agreement is focused exclusively on packaging formats for fruits and vegetables and represents a continuation of Zoono’s global rollout strategy alongside its long-standing technology application partner, OSY Group Limited.

The deal is notable for its structured exclusivity and minimum purchase commitment of NZ$15.18 million over the contract term. An initial NZ$182,000 purchase order is expected by January 31, 2026, with Zoono’s antimicrobial solutions to be applied across Multisteps’ packaging formats tailored for fresh produce, excluding grapes. The exclusivity extends through November 2030 and includes provisions for Multisteps to have first right of refusal for the use of the technology on any other food types within Australia during the term.

Zoono Group Limited has previously secured market entry via packaging partnerships in the United Kingdom and South Africa. This latest deal underscores its strategic intent to embed shelf-life extension as a differentiator in the food packaging ecosystem and aligns with its mission to reduce food waste across supply chains.

Why is antimicrobial shelf-life technology gaining traction in global food systems?

The partnership between Zoono Group Limited and Multisteps Pty Limited reflects a growing global focus on the intersection of food packaging innovation and sustainability. Food waste remains a critical challenge across retail and supply chain systems, with estimates suggesting annual losses of up to US$2.61 trillion globally. Approximately one-quarter of these losses are attributed to spoilage in fresh fruits and vegetables. Supermarkets, exporters, and processors are increasingly looking to packaging as a control point for waste reduction and efficiency improvement.

Zoono’s solution, based on a proprietary antimicrobial molecule, kills a wide range of pathogens and remains bonded to the surface without leaching into the food. The application of this molecule through OSY Group Limited’s tailored technologies helps extend the freshness of produce throughout transport, storage, and retail display.

For supermarkets, the impact of even a single day of extended shelf-life can be substantial. According to Zoono’s data, certain perishable items can experience up to 50 percent reduction in waste with a one-day extension. This reduces disposal costs and increases in-store availability of fresh items. Improved shelf presence also contributes to customer retention and brand differentiation.

For food producers and exporters, extended shelf life translates into broader access to markets and reduced losses during long-haul distribution. This can lead to higher revenues, better product quality consistency, and more flexibility in inventory management. From a consumer standpoint, antimicrobial packaging means longer-lasting produce at home, enabling households to reduce food waste and improve grocery value.

What are the key commercial terms of the Zoono–Multisteps partnership?

The agreement gives Multisteps Pty Limited the exclusive rights to apply Zoono’s antimicrobial formulation and OSY Group Limited’s application technology to packaging formats intended for the Australian fresh produce segment. This includes all fresh fruit and vegetable products, whether unprocessed or minimally processed, but specifically excludes grapes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Zoono Group Limited and OSY Group Limited are restricted from supplying their technology for any other food types within Australia unless Multisteps is first offered written exclusivity for those additional categories. This structure ensures Multisteps retains strategic leverage across any future packaging expansions involving Zoono’s antimicrobial platform in Australia.

The agreement also includes standard termination clauses related to non-payment, material breach, insolvency, and change of control. These safeguards offer both parties operational security and commercial stability across the five-year term.

The NZ$182,000 initial order, due by January 2026, will serve as a commercial proof point for the technology’s integration into Multisteps’ production lines. Over the full term, the NZ$15.18 million purchase commitment underscores the scale at which both parties are planning to operate, signaling confidence in long-term demand and downstream customer uptake.

How does this fit into Zoono Group’s broader roadmap for shelf-life technology?

Zoono Group Limited has framed this Australian deal as the next logical step in its international expansion strategy. The company has previously announced similar arrangements in the United Kingdom and the European Union, with a South African packaging agreement also underway. These agreements follow multiple years of laboratory and field validation of Zoono’s antimicrobial properties across a variety of substrates and produce types.

By partnering with regional and multinational packaging manufacturers, Zoono Group Limited is leveraging existing production and distribution infrastructure to accelerate adoption. The strategy is built around embedding antimicrobial performance into mainstream food packaging formats without requiring significant process redesigns.

Through OSY Group Limited’s application technology, the Zoono formulation can be incorporated into packaging materials including flow wraps, trays, lidding films, corrugated board, and paper-based formats. This plug-and-play approach enables seamless integration into Multisteps’ operations and opens the door to broader usage across retail and industrial channels.

Given the increasing policy and commercial focus on food waste reduction, analysts following the packaging and agri-tech sectors suggest that shelf-life technology is becoming a key competitive edge. Solutions like Zoono’s are now seen as both a sustainability measure and a retail efficiency tool, potentially allowing packaging players to command higher margins and stronger customer loyalty.

What are the implications for Multisteps and the Australian food packaging landscape?

Multisteps Pty Limited is positioned as a major player in the Australian packaging space with operations across Australia, Thailand, China, and the United States. Its portfolio includes lightweight, recyclable, and increasingly recycled-content packaging across sectors such as produce, protein, bakery, and ready meals.

By embedding Zoono and OSY Group Limited’s shelf-life extension technology into its fresh produce packaging, Multisteps can now offer customers a scientifically validated solution with demonstrable return on investment. This could significantly enhance its value proposition to growers, processors, and supermarkets dealing with produce spoilage, logistics inefficiencies, or shelf presentation challenges.

Multisteps’ client base is likely to benefit from reduced loss rates during distribution, better quality control, and extended product life, particularly for export-oriented supply chains. The antimicrobial enhancement can also help customers meet tightening regulatory and retailer demands for food safety and sustainability.

The exclusive nature of the agreement gives Multisteps a defensible position in the Australian market for antimicrobial produce packaging, which could translate into stronger long-term customer contracts and higher pricing power in a competitive sector. Observers also note that the agreement aligns with national sustainability priorities, including circular economy initiatives and waste reduction targets set by Australian regulators.

How are institutional investors evaluating Zoono Group Limited’s Australian packaging rollout and what signals will shape sentiment in the coming quarters?

Institutional sentiment toward Zoono Group Limited (ASX: ZNO) is expected to hinge on the execution and scaling of the Multisteps partnership. Investors will likely watch for evidence of reorder momentum, customer adoption by major retailers or growers, and performance metrics related to spoilage reduction and cost savings.

The degree to which the Multisteps deployment can serve as a template for other regional expansions will also be critical. Analysts tracking the packaging innovation space suggest that similar exclusive licensing models may be replicated in Asia-Pacific markets where shelf-life challenges are acute and export distances are large.

There is also likely to be close attention paid to any indication of the Zoono–OSY technology expanding into adjacent food categories such as protein or bakery within the Australian market. Under the contract, Multisteps retains first rights to such expansions, making it a potentially valuable gateway for new vertical applications.

Given Zoono Group Limited’s global ambitions and regulatory momentum behind food waste solutions, this Australian deal may serve as a commercial springboard for broader international traction and recurring revenue visibility. Execution over the next two to three quarters will be pivotal in validating the business case for shelf-life extension technologies in packaging.

What are the key takeaways from Zoono Group Limited’s exclusive Multisteps packaging agreement?

• Zoono Group Limited has signed a five‑year exclusive agreement with Multisteps Pty Limited to apply its antimicrobial shelf‑life extension technology across fresh produce packaging in Australia.

• The contract includes an initial NZ$182,000 purchase order due by January 2026 and mandates minimum purchases totaling NZ$15.18 million over the contract period.

• The deal covers all fresh fruit and vegetable packaging formats, excluding grapes, and gives Multisteps first rights to any future category expansions within Australia.

• Zoono Group Limited and OSY Group Limited have already launched similar agreements in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and South Africa, with Australia now added as a key market in the global rollout.

• The antimicrobial technology is designed to extend produce shelf life, reduce spoilage, and improve supply chain efficiency without migrating into the food.

• Supermarkets and producers benefit through reduced waste, improved stock availability, better export flexibility, and enhanced product presentation.

• Multisteps gains a defensible market advantage by integrating Zoono’s and OSY Group Limited’s solution into its recyclable and lightweight packaging portfolio.

• Institutional investors will closely monitor execution of the initial order, customer adoption rates, and potential expansion into additional food categories.

• Analysts believe the partnership strengthens Zoono Group Limited’s commercial momentum in sustainable packaging and could unlock further exclusive deals in the Asia Pacific region.

• Successful execution in Australia is expected to serve as a blueprint for future geographic and sector‑level expansion as demand for shelf‑life extension technologies grows globally.