Innovation can eliminate packaging waste and enable a future where all packaging is recycled or its value is recovered, DuPont’s packaging leader said at the industry’s leadership summit. “The packaging industry has long focused on reducing to the minimum necessary packaging. But this is not enough – we can do more through innovation,” said William F. Weber, vice president and general manager – DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, during the keynote address... ...Read more »

The recent ISM trade fair in Cologne indicated momentum for the confectionery industry would continue in 2009, while also introducing a host of new products for retailers to sample. The fair, attended by more than 32,500 buyers from approximately 150 countries, showcased new products and innovative marketing strategies expected to drive the sector through economic turbulence. Chocolate with pumpernickel, asparagus pastries, rose sweets, and chips with parsnips were among the exciting array of new... ...Read more »

Aussies are endeavouring to teach the Brits a thing or two about food with the launch of an Austrade food trends report in the UK this month. Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner for the UK, Kylie Hargreaves, said the Austrends 2009 Report was developed to create some buzz in the UK Market around the interesting and unique food trends coming out of Australia, during a difficult time for new product development and marketing. “Retailers here in the UK are a little bit behind some of the... ...Read more »

Patties Foods, the Australian manufacturer of pastry products, has posted a 35% drop in first-half profit after tax as increased advertising spend, pay-outs to former senior executives and higher administration costs more than offset a slight rise in sales. The small lift in sales was driven mainly by growth in the Foodservice channel. Retail Market Retail sales were down 1.4% compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, due primarily to supply constraints causing some out of stocks and... ...Read more »

Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, has recorded an 8.8% spike in first-half sales to $26.1 billion as their food and liquor division drives growth. “Today we are pleased to report a net profit increase of 10.3% to $983.3 million for the half-year ended 4 January 2009. This is a strong result reflecting increasing customer acceptance of our retail offer underpinned by the continued investment in all our businesses,” Woolworths CEO Michael Luscombe said. “I... ...Read more »

The UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition Commission (CC), has overnight published a new draft code of conduct for supermarkets and suppliers to help address concerns about abuse of buyer power. The Order follows the CC’s inquiry into UK groceries retailing last year, which concluded that measures were needed to address its worries about relationships between retailers and their suppliers. The Commission will also shortly publish a draft Order outlining measures to prevent exclusivity... ...Read more »

Consumer interest in food labels may not be as strong as expected, with recent research suggesting that up to half never pay attention. The research carried out by Sarah Keogh, consultant dietitian on Irish consumers’ use and understanding of nutrition labels on pre-packed foods, found 61% of males and 40% of females never read the nutrition label before purchase. The survey also found that understanding of labels was limited among consumers with only 32% of the population knowing that there... ...Read more »

The Australian National Retailers Association, which represents the likes of Coles, Woolworths and Franklins, is advocating a national plan for payroll tax relief which they believe could assist cash strapped employers save up to 55,000 jobs. ANRA CEO Margy Osmond wrote to the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers two weeks ago proposing a national plan which would cut payroll tax to a uniform rate of 4%. “Cash payments to households and infrastructure spending will stimulate the economy,... ...Read more »

Retailers in NSW are calling on the NSW Government to implement new measures to help reduce business costs and support jobs during the economic downturn. At the Jobs Summit in Sydney yesterday retailers prepared a wish list, which included: • Full deregulation of trading hours, similar to the ACT or the Tasmanian model; • Creating a single ‘can do’ contact point in the Premier’s office to facilitate retail investment in NSW; • Reducing red tape – drawing on the Victorian... ...Read more »

The salmonella outbreak in America linked to the now bankrupt Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) has been responsible for 666 illnesses and one of the biggest food recalls in US history. Tragically, it may have also led to nine deaths. Over 2,000 products have been recalled from manufacturers large and small, who have used PCA’s products in everything from biscuits to ice-cream. The scandal has caused consumer confidence in the food supply to plummet. Fewer than one in four consumers now believe... ...Read more »