Restaurant & Catering Australia, the peak national organisation representing the interests of 40,000 restaurateurs and caterers, has been buoyed by the stunning ratings performance of MasterChef Australia. John Hart, Chief Executive Officer of the industry body, believes the public groundswell of support for the show will provide a fillip for the restaurant sector. “The Association is delighted with the overwhelming enthusiasm for the industry generated by MasterChef,” he said. “Fremantle... ...Read more »

Supermarkets are likely to buoy the advertising industry in the year ahead, according to a new industry report released yesterday. Advertising from supermarkets in Australia is expected to soar a further 13.8% in the 2009/10 financial year to $774 million amid a stagnant advertising market, according to IBISWorld. ”The relatively recession-proof grocery and supermarket sector are buoying the advertising industry somewhat, as people eating out less translates into more entertaining and eating... ...Read more »

Coles has continued with their aggressive discounting plan, offering a 10 per cent rollback to seniors this week. The supermarket chain last week instigated a brief petrol price battle with a 40 cents per litre discount for those who spent more than $300 on groceries, with Woolworths immediately following suit. Woolworths will not match the deal, due to end tomorrow, on this occasion. Coles spokesman Jim Cooper said the move was made as many Pensioners missed out last week because their shopping... ...Read more »

New Zealand is contemplating a deferral of the proposed mandatory fortification of folic acid in bread until 2012 in response to concerns about the safety of the move. Australia and New Zealand are currently due to make folic acid fortification mandatory as of September 13, but New Zealand is calling for public comment regarding the possibility of putting the plan on the back burner. Australia is expected to go ahead regardless, creating fears that the joint regulatory system seen across Australia... ...Read more »

UK supermarkets should pull a range of snack products, including flapjacks, from their shelves in a bid to curb rising obesity, according to the outgoing head of the Food Standards Agency – the British food regulatory agency. Speaking to The Times at the end of her four-year stint as chair of the FSA, Dame Deirdre Hutton pointed the finger at certain snacks on supermarket shelves. “It is my personal view that supermarkets should stop marketing food that is small in size and high in calories.... ...Read more »

The release of price data from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Thursday has again put the major supermarket chains under the spotlight. The RBA’s research established that food, beverage and tobacco prices had risen 4% each year, on average, since 1993 – comfortably above the 2.7% core inflation recorded. “The various types of food included in the CPI show a broadly similar trend price increase over this period, although the prices for dairy, cereals and fruit and vegetable items... ...Read more »

The hit that few people saw coming has soared to an Australian ratings record, putting special events like the AFL Grand Final and Australian Idol finales well and truly in the shade. Over 3.7 million tuned in last night as MasterChef Australia delivered the highest rating non-sport telecast since ratings began, with only the Hewitt-Safin Australian Open Final and 2003 Rugby World Cup Final surpassing it this century. What was so spectacular about its success was its ability to capture the imagination... ...Read more »

Amcor may not have been fined by the ACCC for the much publicised collusion with Visy, but they could still receive a heavy penalty as the fallout from the cartel arrangement continues to haunt. The packaging giant is set to face the courtroom this week to battle claims made by key customer Cadbury, with the damages case that was first filed in December 2006 to finally make it to the courtroom on Wednesday. The UK-based confectioner is seeking damages of $235.8 million for allegedly paying higher... ...Read more »

A range of popular snack food products marketed to children – including iconic brands Milo and Peters Ice-creams – have been made healthier by Nestlé Australia with the reduction of sugar, fat and artificial colours. After conducting a major review of its range, Nestlé Australia reformulated several products according to a new nutritional criteria – in line with the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s (AFGC) Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative. Under the... ...Read more »

More than 700 food services workers throughout Australia will be receive back pay totalling $470,000 following a national campaign to uphold their workplace rights by the Fair Work Ombudsman.The money – an average of $671 per employee – is being progressively reimbursed after the Ombudsman found they were underpaid. A six-month campaign targeted take-away food outlets, supermarkets, grocery stores, bread and cake shops, meat, fish and poultry distributors and dairy manufacturers. Of 481... ...Read more »