Foster’s Group, Australia’s largest brewer, has announced a 4 per cent rise in profit for the full year on the back of a strong result in their beer division. The company, which continued to report wine as a laggard, saw sales up 2.7% to $4.5 billion as CUB led the way. Ian Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of Foster’s, said the company’s transformation progress had been strong – with the separation of their wine and beer divisions going to plan. “In the six months... ...Read more »

China’s fledgling and buoyant dairy industry was brought to its knees after last year’s melamine scandal but, slowly, there are signs growth is returning to the sector. Beijing has ordered China’s dairies to tighten up their supply chains and the country’s top processors are highlighting those moves to convince consumers their milk is safe. Mark Godfrey reports from Beijing. The marketing gloves are back off in China’s dairy industry. Almost a year on from the melamine... ...Read more »

The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered back-payments totalling $23,000 for eight food salespeople in Melbourne’s east and south-eastern suburbs over the past three months.Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell reported that the casual salespeople – who no longer work for the operator of food outlets in the Monash and Glen Eira local government areas – were underpaid the minimum hourly rate as a result of the employer failing to pay them according to the applicable... ...Read more »

Aldi Australia has become the first grocery retailer to commit to the Australian Olive Association’s (AOA) Industry Code of Practice.The Code of Practice has been introduced to guarantee the authenticity and quality of certified extra virgin olive oils and distinguish such products from others in the marketplace. To be certified, every drop of oil in a bottle labelled extra virgin olive oil must meet or exceed standards for quality and must be free of smell and taste defects with a free fatty... ...Read more »

A Greens plan to introduce a national beverage deposit scheme – similar to that seen in South Australia – is currently under review by a Senate committee. The inquiry today heard from food and beverage manufacturers represented by industry body the Australian Food and Grocery Council and aluminium manufacturer Alcoa. Australians for Refunds on Cans and Bottlers also had their say on the issue that has the support of both the Greens and Family First Senator Steve Fielding. The plan would... ...Read more »

New South Wales Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, has advised that higher food prices over Christmas can be expected if rain is not forthcoming over the coming fortnight. Mr Macdonald yesterday said that the drought situation in the state remained alarming despite a slight improvement in the latest drought figures – which showed 63.9 per cent of NSW was in drought. As a result, key crops such as canola, wheat and barley are under pressure. “If we don’t get some reasonable... ...Read more »

The maker of the Four n’ Twenty pie has today announced a 21.3 per cent decline in profit despite seeing sales up by 9.3 per cent in the 2008/09 Financial Year. Patties Foods advised that the main catalysts for the “disappointing” result were difficulties in completing commissioning of the new bakery plant in the first half – which led to reduced customer supply levels and higher costs; increased marketing spend to “regain market share and shelf presence”; and... ...Read more »

Low-sodium brands may struggle to gain traction with consumers as recipe changes affect a product’s taste, a leading US nutritionist said on Friday. With research into US consumers claiming that more shoppers are paying attention to the amount of salt they eat, food manufacturers are stepping up efforts to launch no- or low-sodium products. Just last week, Heinz unveiled a tomato ketchup line marketed as containing ‘no salt’, while Campbell Soup Co. launched its lower-sodium namesake... ...Read more »

Australia already exports olive oil to the Italians and soon we may have a significant new industry exporting green tea to Japan, according to a report by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC). Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the report identified green tea as a potential export industry to expand given several regions in Australia have an ideal climate and environment to provide high-quality green tea – including around Gosford on... ...Read more »

Don KRC has received backing from the Victorian Government for their plan to boost plant capacity while reducing emissions. The Victorian Government said they were keen to support the major investment by Castlemaine’s largest employer, which will create 480 jobs and improve the town’s energy and water efficiency. The smallgoods subsidiary of George Weston Foods will receive a $3 million grant to drive an expansion worth over $150 million. “George Weston Foods is already a major... ...Read more »