According to latest research from international food and grocery expert IGD, nearly a quarter of British shoppers are seeking inspirational recipe ideas for leftover food in a bid to reduce food waste and save money. Approximately, one third of food shoppers buy is thrown away, costing British consumers alone about £10 billion (A$22b) a year. On top of the obvious environmental concerns, there is an increasing appreciation that wasted food means wasted money. In these challenging times, shoppers... ...Read more »

The competition watchdog has given the all clear to Primo Smallgoods for the proposed purchase of certain assets of Hans Continental Smallgoods. The decision was made in the belief that, given Hans was likely to collapse without a purchaser, the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition. “After extensive inquiries with market participants, the ACCC concluded that unless acquired by Primo, Hans would be likely to cease trading imminently and would be liquidated by the administrator.... ...Read more »

Naturally Good Products Pty Ltd wishes to advise that they are conducting a voluntary consumer level recall on the product listed below, as the product contains traces of peanuts that are not declared on the packaging. Consumers who are allergic to peanuts should not consume this product. Consumers who are not allergic to peanuts can safely consume this product. This recall only applies to products with the nominated size and best before dates (see: below). No other Naturally Good products are affected... ...Read more »

A new report reveals the impact of the economic downturn on the non-alcoholic beverage industry to-date as well as the outlook for coming years. According to Euromonitor International’s latest 2009 Drinks data, the global drinks industry has proven to be quite strong given the prevailing economic headwinds. The soft drinks market showed an increase of 3.8% in total volume terms for 2008 and the hot drink market experienced a 2.9% increase in total volume terms. However, with the economic plunge... ...Read more »

The rate of trend growth for food retailing increased again in the December quarter, the Australian Bureau of Statistics advised today. It represented the third straight quarter of the trend growth rate rising, with a 1.8% increase for the food retail sector. However, the ABS noted that the rate of growth was more greatly influenced by price hikes than by volume increases. Restaurants, cafes and restaurants saw a 0.6% decline in trend growth, the fourth straight decline for the sector as consumers... ...Read more »

Sara Lee’s multi-year transformation is on track and beginning to reap dividends, Brenda Barnes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sara Lee, has told analysts at the CAGNY conference in Florida. “Sara Lee’s value proposition and prospects for profitable growth are better than at any other time since I’ve been here,” said Barnes, who joined the company in 2004. “And, I’m excited about the tremendous additional opportunities for improvement that will... ...Read more »

Australian pizza maker Domino’s Pizza Enterprises today announced a strong half year, with sales growth of 14.5% above the corresponding period last year and profit rising 2.8% to $6.3 million. Australia’s only publicly-listed pizza chain, which announced the launch of a new menu this week, now has 756 stores in operation in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. “We have recorded solid performance for the first half of the 2009 and, as a result, Domino’s Pizza is on track to... ...Read more »

A dozen Federal workplace inspectors will converge on the Sydney Fish Markets at Pyrmont today to ensure workers are being paid properly. The Federal Workplace Ombudsman advised that employers will be randomly audited as part of its national campaign targeting the food services sector. Inspectors are checking on almost 1000 businesses around Australia, including retail and wholesale poultry and seafood suppliers, grocers, smallgoods stores, bakeries, butchers, dairy producers, coffee shops and take-away... ...Read more »

Kraft Foods is bullish about the position it has worked itself into with just one year remaining in its turnaround program and is set to launch a new brand identity to signify the change in their focus. “We’re well-positioned to win going forward,” Kraft CEO, Irene Rosenfeld, suggested. “We have a strong plan. We’re making the right investments. And we’re executing well. The majority of our businesses are now delivering, and all geographies are contributing.” Ms... ...Read more »

America’s dairy cows are now being redirected to the slaughterhouse in the thousands as milk prices plummet to levels that make production unviable for many farmers. Some dairy farmers have reported that they have had to sell a portion of their herds for slaughter because feed prices are still high and demand is falling around the world, placing pressure on the price of the staple. In some cases in the US the price of milk farmers receive is now around half of the production costs, and if the... ...Read more »