The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has called on Environment Ministers to reject calls for a national container deposit system ahead of discussions at the Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting in Melbourne tomorrow (Thursday 17 April). AFGC Chief Executive Dick Wells said that industry supports an informed debate that considers all the economic, social and environmental aspects of waste management policy but was not supportive of simplistic responses to complex... ...Read more »
Restaurateurs on the Gold Coast are suggesting laws be put in place to stop amateurs from trying to emulate the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver on a whim. The proposal has come following a noticeable increase in the number of amateur restaurateurs starting a new business only to see it crumble as quickly as it began. Consequently, compulsory training has been mooted as a possibility to curb the number of failures. Proposed changes include a requirement for people to undergo mandatory training... ...Read more »
A combination of record low global inventory levels, weather induced supply side shocks, surging outside investor influence, record oil prices and structural changes in demand for grains and oilseeds have created an explosive environment for prices, a recently-released industry report from the world’s leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank, says. The Rabobank Global Focus report titled Grains & oilseeds – is it a new era for prices?, says that while it is still early days, the outlook... ...Read more »
The ACCC’s grocery price investigation continued in Launceston yesterday with Tasmanian farmers indicating they were not to blame for the high grocery prices. They are, however, concerned about the prospect of grocery prices falling as a result of the ACCC investigation. If this was to happen they believe that their margins will be further cut and the farming community will be then be put under greater financial stress. Read More →
A small business owner has admitted to misleading jobseekers, including international tourists, about the availability of work in Taree and other parts of New South Wales and Queensland. Mr Richard Alexander Roberson, trading as Backpacker Employment Services published a number of advertisements in local newspapers in the mid north coast of New South Wales area offering fruit picking jobs. Mr Roberson represented that: fruit picking jobs were available in a variety of locations, including the Taree... ...Read more »
As the price of food continues to rise protests have been becoming more prevalent. While few major protests have been held so far there is growing concern that continued rises will cause greater social unrest and political leaders in many Asian countries, particularly Myanmar, Thailand, China and the Philippines, are under immense pressure. In Argentina, where the urban population is significantly greater than the rural population, the Government sought to increase tariffs on grain exporters to try... ...Read more »
The inflation report to be released on April 23 is likely to indicate inflation rising at its greatest rate for 17 years, according to many analysts. Core inflation is expected to rise .9% for the quarter which would result in an annual inflation figure of 3.9%; markedly higher than the 2-3% range which the RBA try to maintain. However, with other recent data indicating consumer demand beginning to wane, the RBA is still unlikely to increase interest rates at their next meeting in May. Read More →
In order to counter specialty fresh produce stores, Coles and Woolworths are about to revamp their supermarkets to improve their perishable food displays. Woolworths have already begun showcasing their improved stores and are keen to complete 220 stores within the next ten weeks. Coles are set to begin a similar revamp soon. The changes are designed to give a more spacious feel while decreasing clutter and, coupled with increased signage, are destined to make the shopping experience more pleasant... ...Read more »
The NSW Government is set to create the ‘Office of the Retail Advocate’ to help protect shop owners from deceitful landlords, according to reports from News Ltd. The Office would have the power to seize landlord documents if they employ predatory tactics against their tenants and will also be able to prosecute landlords on behalf of tenants who would otherwise lack the financial capacity to take their landlord to court. According to News Ltd, a tenants hotline received 6000 calls from... ...Read more »
Professor Keith Woodford, author of Devil In The Milk and professor of farm management and agribusiness at Lincoln University in New Zealand, will be in Australia this week, speaking at a series of seminars which take a closer look into the health implications associated with A1 and A2 beta-casein proteins in milk. Professor Woodford will be sharing with delegates at seminars in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane the evidence of more than 100 scientific papers linking beta-casein types to a range of... ...Read more »