Sixteen brands have been chosen by consumers as the most innovative for 2009. In the largest consumer-voted program in North America to reward innovation among the consumer packaged goods industry, over 100,000 shoppers lodged votes on their favourites in 16 categories. Winners of the categories are able to use the red ‘Product of the Year’ logo on packaging, advertisements, flyers and in-store displays. A competitive advantage according to a recent survey conducted by research company,... ...Read more »

Coopers, Australia’s largest independently-owned brewer, is hopeful that they will soon be producing America’s most popular beer at their South Australian brewery. Budweiser, which is the highest selling beer in the world, is imported into Australia and distributed by Premium Beverages – which Coopers has an 80 per cent share of. As they push toward a key sales threshold, the privately-owned business is seeking to arrange a deal with the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch... ...Read more »

The world’s biggest dairy exporter Fonterra, which owned 43 per cent of Sanlu Group – the company at the centre of China’s melamine scandal, has advised of their shock at the alarming findings of a Chinese court, which last week sent the former Chairwoman of Sanlu to prison for the remainder of her life while sentencing two others to death. Another who was involved in the deliberate contamination milk powder, which lead to the deaths of at least six infants and almost 300,000 illnesses,... ...Read more »

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has advised that it has entered into an agreement with Asahi Breweries to sell part of its stake in Tsingtao Brewery Co. for US$667 million. The divestiture of this stake in Tsingtao is part of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s ongoing deleveraging program, generating proceeds that will be used to repay debt incurred as a result of the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. As a result of the transaction, Asahi will become Tsingtao’s second largest... ...Read more »

Tasmanian cherry grower Reid Fruits has overcome market access challenges to ship 17.5 tonnes of premium Japanese-variety (Satonishiki) cherries which retail at A$50 per kilo in Japan – the homeland of the unique cherry.The non-fumigated white-flesh cherries, initially developed by Japanese growers in the 1930s, have been an instant success with Japanese consumers, renowned for being some of the most discerning in the world. This is the first time Reid Fruits – the only large-scale southern... ...Read more »

While the nation stopped to celebrate Australia day, Australian exporters and Austrade were hoping to make the most of the heightened international awareness of Australia and help enhance international trade and investment opportunities. Austrade’s Chief Economist Tim Harcourt said that, in a globalised world, Australia day was increasingly becoming a global event, offering many opportunities for Australian business to leverage the Australian brand. “It is important in the current international... ...Read more »

Australian winemaker Beelgara has been presented with an opportunity to expand in the UK. Beelgara’s UK distributor, HBJ Wines & Spirits, has been acquired by the Essex based wine and spirit distributor Coe Vintners. Coe Vintners is approximately twice the size of HBJ and the combined entity will now have a formidable presence in the UK market, offering Beelgara the strongest position possible for the future. Coe Vintners supply the nation’s leading clubs, restaurants and bars. Managing... ...Read more »

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, an American-based maker of flavours and fragrances, has created their list of the top 10 flavours for 2009 in three categories: sweet (confectionery, bakery, dairy); savoury (meat, condiments, dressings, sauces, soups, seasoning); and beverage (non-alcoholic, alcoholic). So-called superfruits, such as Acai, are prominent as are a range of new, exotic flavours from around the world. The top-10 lists are created after tracking samples that have been requested over a... ...Read more »

Over 1500 companies now employ the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines to evaluate performance on sustainability, environmental impact and responsible marketing, with Kellogg’s just releasing their first. The GRI guidelines have become increasingly popular since the sustainability reporting framework concept was first created in 1999, with the guidelines the most commonly used around the world. David Mackay, President and CEO of Kellogg Company, said that companies could no longer... ...Read more »

Watch out Sam Kekovich, 2009′s Australia Day battle is about to heat up with Macadamias looking to take the position as Australia’s most Australian fare. “Macadamia nuts are more Australian than lamb – they are native to Australia and were eaten by Aborigines long before the English settlers came to our shores with their lamb,” Australian Macadamia Society’s CEO, Jolyon Burnett, said. Burnett says it is time for Mr Kekovich to come clean and let Australians know... ...Read more »