Consumer-oriented restaurant websites often grab the bulk of media attention, leaving business-to-business interaction as often the forgotten link. As a result, US-based foodservice consultants Technomic turned their attention to foodservice manufacturers’ sites, and asked their customers about their experience using them – finding several areas where there is typically room for improvement. Manufacturers’ web sites are visited regularly by restaurant operators, distributor sales... ...Read more »

The NSW Government unveiled their inaugural food inspection report card on Sunday, detailing the amount of food inspections, fines and prosecutions handed down in every council across the State for the past year. NSW Minister for Primary Industries Steve Whan said the report by the NSW Food Authority reveals that more than 56,000 inspections were carried out at more than 36,000 food businesses in one year. “This is the most comprehensive report card of food inspection activity ever compiled... ...Read more »

Sara Lee has announced a further step toward their plan to focus on food and beverage products with the sale of the air care business to consumer products giant Procter & Gamble. The binding offer of €320 million (A$524 million) was accepted earlier this month by Sara Lee as long as certain, unspecified conditions are met. In fiscal 2009, this business generated annual sales of approximately €260 million. “The proposed sale of our air care business is the next step in our plan to focus... ...Read more »

Fonterra last week announced that it has reached a final agreement to purchase the remaining 51% stake in Saudi New Zealand Milk products, a joint-venture dairy manufacturing facility with SADAFCO in Saudi Arabia. The acquisition, worth around NZD45 million, is subject to regulatory approvals in Saudi Arabia. Saudi New Zealand Milk Products (SNZMP) currently packs and processes over 30,000 metric tonnes of New Zealand milk a year for Fonterra and a small number of co-packing customers. The deal will... ...Read more »

The long-running talks between Tasmanian dairy farmers and processor National Foods finally took a turn for the better early last week after previous negotiations had continually stalled. The ongoing saga has hurt both parties, with farmers not having the surety of contracts while National Foods sales in the state have reportedly been hit by the negative publicity. And now, a couple of months after talks initially broke down and a few weeks after the deadline passed for farmers to sign the National... ...Read more »

Patties Foods today announced a merger of their In-Home and Out-of-Home sales operations under one reporting structure, with the positions of GM Sales In-Home and GM Sales Out-of-Home being made redundant as a result. The news comes after a strategic review of the company’s sales operations. The company reported that Tim Peters would take charge of the newly combined division – accepting the role of Head of Sales, effective 18 January 2010. Mr Peters’ most recent role was with... ...Read more »

British research has discovered that food and grocery shoppers are not yet confident they can make a sustained difference through their shopping choices. When asked what they feel they can positively influence, shoppers told food and grocery experts IGD: personal health – 57% British farmers – 41% the local economy – 38% the way animals are treated – 38% farmers and workers in poorer nations – 26% the environment – 23% sustainable fishing – 17% global... ...Read more »

The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking into the prospect of a global ban on duty-free alcohol – a move that has taken many by surprise. A strategy paper released earlier this month by the WHO indicated such a move was firmly on their agenda. It said governments should consider “taxing sales of alcoholic beverages to, and/or the importation of such beverages by, international travellers on the same basis as if such travellers had purchased such beverages in the domestic market... ...Read more »

Banana growers have won their wish for a dancing banana to be stripped from an advertisement promoting Wrigley chewing gum. The ad, promoting plaque-fighting gum, groups bananas in with sugary snacks – a link the industry was far from pleased with. As such, they filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Bureau and even went as far as to boycott chewing gum. “In no way shape or form is the banana part of that family (“junk food”), or that group of what I see as bad... ...Read more »

Food manufacturer General Mills has reported sales growth of two per cent in the second quarter despite volumes remaining flat. “Demand for our leading brands remains strong,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ken Powell said. ”These good sales levels, combined with the accumulating benefits of our holistic margin management efforts, are continuing to drive terrific operating performance in our manufacturing plants.” “This strong, fundamental business momentum has... ...Read more »