Consumer group CHOICE has found that consumers are paying up to 40% more for alcohol at liquor outlets next to supermarkets, and that aggressive pricing policies by the big retailers may be driving smaller competitors out of business. A survey of eleven retailers, including those owned by Coles and Woolworths, found that the bottle shops owned by the major retailers – BWS, Dan Murphy’s and Woolworths Liquor for Woolworths, and Liquorland, Vintage Cellars and 1st Choice Liquor for Coles –... ...Read more »

New Zealand’s Prime Foods has announced plans to expand its joint venture with Phillipines-based Alliance Tuna International, including plans for a new seafood smoke-house in General Santos City under a new joint venture company, Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Co. Prime Foods, who are supplied by Stewart Island salmon farmer Sanford, will expand their processing volume from 300 tons to over 1200 tons of salmon a year. Other species of salmon will also be sourced from Norway, Chile, Scotland... ...Read more »

Infestation by the larvae of the Guatemalan potato moth (Tecia solanivora) has given researchers from Cornell University a clue to increasing potato yields, according to a new study. Researchers found that plants where 10% of the potatoes were infested with the larvae produced potatoes weighing 2.5 times more than the potatoes from undamaged plants, even after the infested tubers were removed.  Even a 20% infestation rate still produced a doubled marketable yield. A 50% infestation rate produced... ...Read more »

US food group Heinz said it performed ‘well’ in a challenging and volatile global environment, despite a slide in full-year profits. For the 12-months ended 28 April, net income attributable to shareholders dropped to US$864.9m compared to $923.1m in the prior year. EPS dropped to $2.87 from $2.91 in the prior year, which was unfavourably impacted by $0.29 from net currency movements. Sales, however, grew 4.8% to $10.5bn, while operating income increased 3.8% to $1.56bn. Heinz chairman,... ...Read more »

Franchisor FFCo (Franchised Food Company) has acquired Nutshack, comprising 28 outlets in Victoria and Queensland. The acquisition brings FFCo’s stable to four, alongside Mr Whippy, Pretzel World and Cold Rock, with a total of 135 outlets. FFCo’s CEO, Stan Gordon, said the company planned to open Nutshack stores across Australia. ““We always said we were on the lookout for more opportunities in our sector and here it is. Nutshack is another exciting and unique brand which we believe... ...Read more »

Borgo Smallgoods is conducting a recall of its Friulano Salame, Lismore Salame and Casalingo Salame after detection of Salmonella bovismorbificans in the products. The recall affects products with a Best Before date of 30 Aug 2010 and 6 Sep 10 for all three products, and is limited to products purchased in Queensland. It is not currently clear how the products became contaminated, or whether any cases of resulting food-borne illness have yet been reported. Some symptoms of Salmonella poisoning are... ...Read more »

Nestlé has announced a new product featuring the C2MAX carbohydrate glucose-fructose blend, developed for Nestlé’s Performance Nutrition PowerBar range. The new beverage will be introduced in partnership with the World Triathalon Corporation – owner of the Ironman and Iron Girl brands – in an exclusive product sponsorship and licensing partnership. The product will be released in June 2010, and will be the official drink for a number of Ironman events. The C2MAX formulation research,... ...Read more »

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has increased the forecast of what it expects to pay its farmer-shareholders for the current season. The company said it now expects to pay NZ$6.90-7.10 (US$4.70-4.84) for each kilogram of milk solids backed by a Fonterra share. This means the dairy co-operative’s forecast has increased by 50% to NZ$6.60 per kg of milk solid. Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said if international dairy prices and foreign exchange rates were to hold to current levels for... ...Read more »

Australian food suppliers may soon be required by law to communicate more frequently and directly to consumers by means of tailored communication methods such as social media and blogging, which will see Australia at the forefront of innovation. In a report released today, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has analysed the way consumers are informed about product recalls (in all categories not only food) and proposes significant changes in this area. The report, titled Review... ...Read more »

According to new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the apparent consumption of ready-to-drink pre-mixed alcoholic beverages fell by 30% in 2008-09, reversing an upward trend for the last four years, based on the quantity of alcohol produced and sold. Apparent consumption dropped from 18.7 million litres in 2007-08 – 1.08 litres per person – to 13.1 million litres, or 0.74 litres per person. By contrast, spirits showed a rise in apparent consumption, from 20.2 million... ...Read more »