Dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn has announced itself as one of the suitors for the ASX-listed Warrnambool Cheese and Butter as they look at their options after seeing their proposal rejected. WCB reported in December that they had received an unsolicited takeover offer in October which they rejected. They then updated the market just prior to Christmas with the news that another party had also made a play for them while the original suitor had tabled a revised bid. Both offers reportedly valued... ...Read more »

In an ongoing effort to drive global change in packaging, leaders from many of the world’s largest consumer goods companies and major retailers have approved a suggested set of principles for sustainable packaging. An assembly of The Consumer Goods Forum’s (The Forum) Global Packaging Project (GPP) met in Toronto Canada on January 19th – 20th to establish a common industry language for packaging and sustainability and to outline final terms for the launch of pilot projects. “Sustainability... ...Read more »

The most successful new product pacesetters of the last fifteen years have addressed consumer needs or redefined a category, reports market researchers IRI, upon releasing a new report on successful product innovation and strategies for market success in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) market in the past 15 years. The report, titled “15 Years of New Product Pacesetters: Excellence in Innovation Drives CPG to the Next Level,” evaluates best-in-class innovations, gives insights to the... ...Read more »

Last financial year saw another decrease in wine production, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, although the glut remains a major concern for the industry. The total grape crush for 2008-09 was 1.7 million tonnes, down by 5.4% on the previous year – while the area of grape vines fell by 157,000 hectares and the yield dropped to 10.7 tonnes per hectare. The crush produced 1.2 billion litres of wine, down by 5.9% on last years figure. Red/rosé wine production... ...Read more »

The Procter & Gamble Company delivered net sales growth of six per cent for the October – December quarter to US$21.0 billion. Organic sales grew five per cent which was better than expected. Organic volume also experienced growth of five per cent. Organic sales were quoted to be driven by initiative activity, strengthened marketing plans, targeted improvements in consumer value, market growth in some businesses and a base period that was impacted by trade inventory reductions and consumption... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest grocery chain has informed the market that they have reduced the shelf price of 3,500 products Australia-wide. The “long term shelf price reduction strategy” has been made possible due to “business efficiencies”, the company said. “3,500 everyday grocery products have had their standard shelf price reduced over the last few months and are now cheaper than they were a year ago,” Woolworths said in a statement. “These lower prices... ...Read more »

Foster’s has today announced the appointment of John Pollaers to the role of Managing Director, Carlton and United Breweries, following last month’s departure of Alex Stevens. Mr Pollaers’ most recent role was President, Asia Pacific with Diageo, based in Singapore and working across 17 regional markets including China, India, Korea, Japan, South East Asia and Australasia. He was also a member of the Diageo Global Executive Committee. In his new role, as head of the beer division... ...Read more »

The proposal by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ban duty-free alcohol globally has now been removed. Lobbyists from the European Retail Council (ETRC) and other travel-retail organisations and associated companies have worked hard for six weeks following the release of the proposal in early December. ETRC secretary general Keith Spinks is pleased with the result, after intensive talks with government representatives from all over the world. “Our message was clear-duty-free is not part... ...Read more »

Over the past three years, the number of products with Daily Intake Guide (DIG) front-of-pack labelling has increased by more than 3,000% from 58 in 2007 to more than 2,000 in 2009, according to new industry research. AFGC’s latest in-store labelling audit found that DIG, launched in Australia in 2006, is now used by about 180 leading brands on more than 2,000 food and beverage products in supermarkets and convenience stores. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said DIG was also being progressively... ...Read more »

New research has outlined the likely growth industries within the Australian food and beverage sector for the next few years, with water, coffee and ice cream forecast to be among the leading lights. Private label goods, meanwhile, are likely to steadily increase their market share as retailers push their own brands harder than ever before. Private label is not as well developed as in many European countries but has been a growing feature of the market, Leatherhead’s Global Food Markets research... ...Read more »