Australia and New Zealand have agreed on a series of actions to foster closer collaboration on trade and investment promotion to global markets.Australian Minister for Trade Simon Crean said it was an important next step in building on the success of the trans-Tasman trade and economic partnership. “This series of bilateral initiatives is designed to accelerate economic integration between our two countries. “Following meetings between Prime Minister Rudd and Prime Minister Key last year,... ...Read more »

13 – 14 June 2010, Werribee Park Mansion and National Equestrian CentreEquestrian Victoria is calling on all gourmet regional food and wine producers to be a part of the inaugural Great Southern Food and Wine Festival to be held in conjunction with Australia’s most prestigious equestrian event, the Melbourne International Three Day Event, on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. Held in the magnificent grounds of Werribee Mansion and the adjacent National Equestrian Centre, the... ...Read more »

A new study has found that certain probiotics can improve metabolic syndrome and counteract the adverse effects of a high-fat diet, by reducing tissue inflammation and metabolic endotoxaemia. The landmark study was carried out by the team of Professor Remy Burcelin, an internationally renowned expert of glucose metabolism and Research Director at the National Institute of Health & Medical Research (INSERM) in Toulouse, France, in collaboration with Danisco Health & Nutrition Research Centre... ...Read more »

Mars Inc is planning to “double” its innovation programme in UK chocolate in 2010, the company has revealed.Fiona Dawson, MD of the company’s Mars Chocolate unit in the UK, said the company plans to launch more products this year, including further additions to its Galaxy portfolio. Mars is upping the support it gives to its portfolio and Dawson said the company was increasing its marketing investment by 42% this year to around GBP47m (US$72.4m). She claimed 97% of the population... ...Read more »

* Pre-tax profits up 10%; trading profits rise 12% * Turnover climbs almost 7% * Asia trading profits increase 18.9% UK retail giant Tesco yesterday (20 April) booked a 10.1% rise in annual profits as earnings in Asia jumped and the company boosted its domestic business with investment in loyalty scheme Clubcard. Tesco reported underlying pre-tax profits of GBP3.34bn (US$5.13bn) for the 52 weeks to 27 February, a rise of 10.1% on the year. Trading profit was up 12.3% to GBP3.41bn, while group sales... ...Read more »

Mars, Incorporated has announced that it has filed a lawsuit against cocoa flavanol extract supplier Naturex, makers of the Cocoactiv product, and against cocoa flavanol supplement manufacturers Nutraceuticals (makers of the Solaray products) and Life Extension Foundation (makers of the Cocoa Gold products) for infringement of nine US patents owned by Mars. The suit was filed in the US District Court in Alexandria, VA and requests that an injunction be granted to stop infringing sales and the promotion... ...Read more »

Nestlé has reaffirmed its commitment to one of its key growth drivers Popularly Positioned Products (PPPs), by announcing that the Company expects to generate global sales of CHF 20 billion over the coming years.PPPs meet the specific needs of around 3 billion consumers with lower income levels, many of whom are entering into the cash economy and buying branded goods for the first time. As such, PPPs are adapted in terms of nutritional composition, price, accessibility and format to meet their specific... ...Read more »

Three European grain traders, AgroTrace, Holtermann and Eurograin, have sent a letter to WA Premier Colin Barnett stating that they will not buy Western Australian grain if GM canola is grown. The letter, dated February 26, directly addresses the WA government’s motion to exempt Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® GM canola from restrictions on GM crops, which passed last month by a narrow margin. A copy of the letter was sent unsolicited to GM-free group Gene Ethics last weekend. “Without... ...Read more »

Eagle Boys Pizza has announced three new pizzas – Garlic Prawn, Steak & Prawn and Prawn & Avocado – as part of a “mission to restore Australians’ love of seafood on pizza”, looking to court “jaded pizza lovers, tired of fake-looking, shrivelled ‘prawns’.” Eagle Boys CEO Todd Clayton said while Australians had a close affinity with the sea and loved seafood, many pizza makers failed to deliver a good seafood pizza.  The new toppings at Eagle... ...Read more »

The human impact of airspace closure across northern Europe due to the volcanic ash cloud extends beyond stranded holidaymakers, to include the imports of fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA). Flight restrictions implemented in the UK and northern Europe after last week’s eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland have meant no food imports have arrived into Europe via aircraft. Christopher Snelling, FTA’s head of global supply... ...Read more »