Kellogg said today (12 November) that it has seen the pace of its net sales growth moderate over the past year, with expansion held back by limited opportunities in high-growth, emerging markets. Speaking at the group’s investor day, Kellogg CEO David Mackay said that the group had seen slower top-line growth this year than in the previous four years due to the cyclical nature of the market, which has seen the cereal giant pushed through fewer price increases. The company expects sales growth... ...Read more »

The sales of certain ready meal lines in the UK are in “terminal decline” as more local consumers look to cook from scratch, retail giant Asda has claimed. Paul Kelly, Asda’s corporate affairs director, told a food conference in London that a growing number of UK shoppers were turning their backs on selected lines in favour of cooking from raw ingredients. Kelly said the economic downturn had led to more scratch cooking and argued that, despite concern over the levels of culinary... ...Read more »

The operators of a Melbourne food company have been fined a total of $54,000 for underpaying a delivery truck driver more than $32,000. The penalties are the result of a prosecution by the Fair Work Ombudsman in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Magistrate Franz Holzer imposed a fine of $37,000 against Olara Pty Ltd and $2000 against Exofun Pty Ltd. A director of both companies, Harry Friedman, of North Caulfield, was also fined $15,000 for his involvement. The two companies were involved in... ...Read more »

The dairy price crash has failed to stop Bega Cheese from posting a profit in the most recent financial year, although profits were down on the record 2007-2008 FY result. Company Chairman Barry Irvin considers the after-tax profit of $17.5 million – down around $10 million on last year – a strong result given the tumult on global dairy markets. “It is a year like we have never had before both in terms of the global financial crisis and the impact it had on the dairy industry in... ...Read more »

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler, has announced the members of an independent panel to undertake a comprehensive review of food labelling law and policy. They will join former health minister Dr Neal Blewett whom the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council appointed on 23 October as the Chairman for the review. “Dr Blewett was a pioneer of Australia’s universal Medicare health system and is a strong advocate for the rights of consumers. I am delighted... ...Read more »

Nearly half of food and beverage category shoppers and almost 60 per cent of health/beauty and household goods category shoppers purchase their preferred brand even when a less-expensive alternative is available, with many shoppers using coupons and price promotions simply to justify purchasing preferred brands – according to an American-based study. The initial findings of a shopper marketing study released by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Booz & Company and SheSpeaks,... ...Read more »

The European market for flavoured and functional waters rose a further 5% to 3,600 million litres in 2008, according to the new Europe Flavoured and Functional Water Insights report from food and drinks consultancy Zenith International, which suggests global players in the sector could be in for a profitable few years as interest swells. Flavoured water was again by far the largest segment, with 84% of the total. Functional waters were responsible for the remaining 16%, advancing their share by 1%... ...Read more »

An investigation by the American FBI preceded the calling in of receivers at Australia’s largest tomato processor – Cedenco Foods Australia, but reports suggest the probe was related to a trust with links to the company rather than Cedenco itself. Located in the town of Echuca, Cedenco operates the largest tomato-processing factory in the southern hemisphere. Earlier this year a company owned by their US owner filed for bankruptcy but Cedenco said at the time that their business was still... ...Read more »

The High Court of Australia has overturned a ruling by the Full Court of the Tasmanian Supreme Court that found a publican was responsible for the death of an intoxicated driver. The driver had given the publican the keys to his motorcycle and told him not to return them if he got drunk. The High Court of Australia failed to find that the publican was responsible for the actions of the drinker. The case extends on a trend of the current High Court in favour of personal responsibility, but a legal... ...Read more »

The UK advertising watchdog has cleared Cadbury of allegations that its recent Fairtrade Dairy Milk campaign was racist. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told just-food today (11 November) that there were “no grounds” for even launching an investigation into the claims, which were made last month by African human rights campaigners. The ASA received complaints that the advert was “demeaning”, racially stereotyped Ghanaians and “exploitative of African culture”. However,... ...Read more »