Coles Nurture Fund – Round 14

Purpose and Program Overview

The Coles Nurture Fund – Round 14 supports small to medium Australian food and grocery businesses to deliver innovative, sustainable projects that strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imports. It offers grants of up to $500,000 per project to help businesses develop unique products, technologies and processes that improve productivity, resilience and environmental performance.

The program focuses on initiatives that deliver clear sustainability benefits, extended growing seasons and product or process differentiation, with recent recipients including projects such as virtual livestock fencing, cyclone‑resistant food storage and onshore coffee production. Since 2015, Coles has awarded more than $40 million through the Fund, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to backing commercially viable innovation in Australian agriculture and food manufacturing.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $500,000 per project; no specified minimum.
• Round 14 opening date: 19 January 2026.
• Round 14 closing date: 5:00 pm AEDT, Friday 13 February 2026.
• Eligible industries: Australian food and grocery sector, including producers, farmers and suppliers developing products, processes or technologies aligned with Coles Nurture Fund objectives.
• Co‑contribution: Yes – applicants must fund a share of project costs and provide an external accountant’s funding declaration confirming solvency and capacity to meet their contribution (no fixed percentage specified).
• Location: Businesses operating in Australia; projects must relate to Australian food and grocery production or supply.

Priority Sectors

The program is targeted to the Australian food and grocery sector, including farmers, producers and related supply chain businesses delivering innovation and sustainability outcomes. Within this focus, it supports a broad range of subsectors (e.g. horticulture, livestock, value‑added processing, packaging, ag‑tech), provided proposals align with the Fund’s innovation and sustainability objectives.

Funding Scope

• Funding per project: Up to $500,000; no minimum amount is specified.
• Streams: The guidelines do not define separate funding streams (e.g. feasibility vs capital works); a single competitive funding pool is used for eligible innovation and sustainability projects.​
• Eligible duration: Projects must be deliverable within the timeframe agreed in the funding agreement; costs incurred before execution of the agreement are ineligible.
• Funding structure: Grants are offered as partial contributions toward project costs, with the applicant required to contribute the remaining funds and verify this via an external accountant declaration.

Eligibility Criteria

• Business size: Annual turnover of less than $25 million per annum.
• Staffing: No more than 50 full‑time employees (excluding casual and seasonal workers).
• Business history: Minimum of two years of trading at the time of application, with the ability to provide two full years of financial information.
• Business type: Australian small to medium businesses in the food and grocery sector; businesses do not need to be existing Coles suppliers.
• Registration: Must hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) and be properly registered to operate in Australia.
• Financial capacity: Must provide recent financial statements and a funding declaration from an external accountant confirming solvency and the ability to fund the applicant’s share of project costs.
• Compliance: Must meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the Coles Nurture Fund guidelines and agree to the terms of the funding agreement.​

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The Fund supports projects that deliver innovation and outstanding sustainability benefits within the food and grocery sector. Typical eligible activities may include:

• Acquisition and installation of capital equipment that improves productivity, resource efficiency or environmental performance.
• Implementation of new technologies, processes or systems that extend growing seasons, reduce waste or lower emissions.
• Product development and commercialisation activities for unique, differentiated food or grocery products produced in Australia.
• On‑farm or processing‑level infrastructure that supports climate resilience, biosecurity, storage, or logistics innovation (e.g. cyclone‑proof facilities, precision agriculture solutions).

Applicants should review the official guidelines for a definitive list of eligible and ineligible costs, as well as any restrictions on operating expenses, retrospective costs, or ongoing working capital.​

Assessment Process

The Coles Nurture Fund is a competitive grants program; applications are assessed against published criteria and shortlisted before final decisions are made by an executive evaluation panel. Applications are submitted online, acknowledged by email, and evaluated in line with the Fund’s objectives, with independent industry advice sought where required.​

Key evaluation considerations include:

• Project merit, including the uniqueness of the proposal and its potential to drive innovation and sustainability in the Australian food and grocery sector.
• Strategic alignment with Coles Nurture Fund objectives, including improved sustainability, reduced imports, and stronger local supply chains.
• Value for money, including the scale of impact relative to the requested grant and the applicant’s financial capacity and co‑contribution.

Coles anticipates providing feedback to applicants within approximately three months of the closing date.​

Recent Program Updates

Round 14 of the Coles Nurture Fund opened on 19 January 2026, continuing the Fund’s multi‑round structure that has been in place since its launch in 2015. More than $40 million has now been awarded to 119 small and medium businesses across previous rounds, reflecting ongoing support and sustained program funding.

The core eligibility settings for turnover (less than $25 million) and staff (50 or fewer full‑time employees) have been retained in Round 14, providing continuity for applicants familiar with earlier rounds. Applicants are directed to refer to the updated January 2026 guidelines for detailed conditions, timing and any refinements to assessment and documentation requirements.

Application Tips

• Confirm eligibility early by checking turnover, employee numbers, trading history and sector alignment against the latest Coles Nurture Fund guidelines.
• Prepare key documents in advance, including two years of financial statements, governance information and an external accountant’s funding declaration demonstrating solvency and capacity to co‑fund the project.
• Clearly describe how the project is unique, innovative and delivers measurable sustainability benefits, such as reduced emissions, lower waste, local sourcing or extended growing seasons.
• Provide a realistic budget that clearly separates grant and co‑contribution components, supported by quotes or cost estimates where possible.​
• Demonstrate delivery capability by outlining project timelines, milestones, key personnel experience and any existing partnerships or technical support arrangements.​
• Ensure the online application is complete, consistent and submitted before 5:00 pm AEDT on 13 February 2026, allowing time to upload all required attachments.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. This can help clarify eligibility nuances, strengthen the project rationale, and improve the quality of financial and supporting documentation.

Contact Pattens Group today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates and further information, applicants should visit the Coles Nurture Fund program page and review the latest application guidelines and FAQs, as well as relevant Australian government and regulatory resources.