Unilever has posted third quarter underlying sales growth of 8.3%, as they continue to reap rewards from investing in their brands. The global consumer goods giant managed to also increase volume by 0.6% for the quarter despite raising their prices. In Australia, where their prominent food and beverage brands include Streets, Flora and Lipton, they reported a better third quarter with “good volume growth and a greater contribution from price”. “In the first nine months of the year... ...Read more »
Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, has fallen short in their attempts to purchase Liquorland in New Zealand, with the liquor chain going to major NZ rival Foodstuffs. “After several approaches from interested parties, DB Breweries, who felt that off-premise retailing was no longer core to their business, selected Foodstuffs as their preferred bidder after a competitive bidding process, believing the New Zealand owned company the most suitable to own, support and grow... ...Read more »
IGA Barraba is tomorrow set to become the first supermarket in New South Wales to place a permanent ban on plastic bags. The store owners, John and Karen Bishton, are encouraging customers to use re-useable bags - which are sold at three for $1. They will also offer re-usable bags on loan. IGA Barraba is the largest retailer in the north western NSW town, and accounts for approximately 85 per cent of plastic bag usage among the small town’s 2000 residents. It is now well on the way to joining... ...Read more »
Victoria’s Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding has launched the 2008-2009 Wine Regions of Victoria Touring Guide, an initiative hoped to attract more visitors to regional Victoria. “The Brumby Government is continuing to promote the wonderful food and wine regional Victoria has to offer and boost local, interstate and overseas visitors,” Mr Holding suggested. “With 2900 vineyards and 850 wineries across 21 wine regions, Victoria has the most diverse wine industry... ...Read more »
IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) has added Daily Intake Guide nutritional information to the front of their private label goods. The front-of-pack DIG labels appear on 200 lines of its current range, with a progressive roll-out underway. “IGA and Metcash are committed to providing shoppers with clear and useful information, and our Daily Intake Guide labelling is a major step in that process,” Metcash National Group Manager of Merchandise and Marketing, Gary Tempany, stated. Late... ...Read more »
Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, is to launch a new feedback service entitled ‘Every Comment Helps’ in 100 of their UK supermarkets. Essentially, their improved customer service process will increase the ease of which consumers can contact the retailer (at no cost for the customer). “Customers can send us an SMS text, an e-mail, dial the freephone number, or use the traditional comment cards to give feedback,” a Tesco spokeswoman told Retail Week. “The system... ...Read more »
Restaurants may be moving beyond big steaks and even bigger spenders. As financial woes grip the US and consumers tighten their purse strings Mintel Menu Insights reports that more restaurants are promoting “value” on the menu. Through Mintel’s newly enhanced Menu Insights* database, director and registered dietitian Maria Caranfa sees more restaurants from fast food to fine dining promoting quality menu items for lower prices. She thinks it’s a wise move: “Foodservice... ...Read more »
Australia’s peak food and grocery manufacturing industry association, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), says that the introduction of the federal government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) must ensure that the domestic and international competitiveness of Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing sector is maintained.AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell believes that Australia’s world leading, $70 billion food and grocery manufacturing sector is at risk... ...Read more »
Business information analysts IBISWorld have released their forecast for what Australians will be piling into their shopping baskets in five years’ time. With slower economic growth encouraging more frugal supermarket spending, and increasing health consciousness at the forefront of many a shoppers’ mind, there is a noticeable change in the food Australian consumers are choosing, noted IBISWorld’s General Manager (Australia), Robert Bryant. Demand for dairy Dairy consumption is... ...Read more »
Chadstone Shopping Centre - Australia’s largest shopping centre - will officially open its new Fresh Food precinct comprising 12,600m2 of retail space tomorrow (Friday 31 October). Chadstone, in Melbourne’s south-east, is now home to 55 new food retailers including Simon Johnson, Tangelo Fine Foods, jones the grocer and Oriental Tea House, and prominent supermarket retailers Woolworths and Aldi. The array of quality food available is expected to see consumers flock to the centre in search... ...Read more »