Simon Best of Augello’s in Mooloolaba, Queensland is the inaugural winner and Grand Champion of the Fonterra Foodservices Global Pizza Challenge. Competing against chefs from South Africa, USA, Italy, Vietnam and Austria, Simon won the judges over with his hot smoked salmon pizza with salmon pearls, Perfect Italiano mozzarella and Riverina Fresh natural yoghurt. Glenn Austin, Head Judge of the Fonterra Foodservices Global Pizza Challenge said the calibre of entrants was extremely high, as was... ...Read more »

Consumers, hungry for deals and discounts on food purchases, are increasingly turning to online tools to fill their grocery bags for less, according to Deloitte’s 2010 Consumer Food Safety Survey. The survey found that one-third (33 percent) of respondents subscribed to receive emails/recipes/coupons directly from food manufacturers/companies, a six percentage point increase from Deloitte’s 2008 Consumer Food Safety Survey. “Today’s consumers are using the Internet to not... ...Read more »

Recent research from Mintel Menu Insights found that snacking is the new way to order at restaurants. Menu items that contain the descriptors “snack,” “snackable,” or “snacker” have increased by a staggering 170% since 2007 and growth is expected to carry on as restaurants continue to explore this new trend.”Snacks are providing a huge opportunity right now for restaurants ranging from quick service to fine dining,” notes Eric Giandelone, director of... ...Read more »

Male students at Victorian Government schools are flocking to kitchens in record numbers, inspired by the popularity of MasterChef-style TV programs.Launching Education Week at Footscray City College today, Acting Premier Rob Hulls joined Education Minister Bronwyn Pike, MasterChef Australia finalist Chris Badenoch and year 11 and 12 hospitality students for a cooking challenge in the school’s brand new industrial kitchen. Mr Hulls said the popularity of television cooking had resulted in a... ...Read more »

More than ten thousand salmon are being individually hand milked for caviar at Yarra Valley Salmon – the only fresh water aquaculture farm in Australia to milk Atlantic Salmon by hand. This year’s milking is only the second since the farm was hit by the Black Saturday fires last year, wiping out more than 13 tonne of fish. Despite the significant shortage of salmon, the farm has thousands of healthy fish which spawn year after year, and so has refocused its business on its quality caviar. The... ...Read more »

A generous delivery of 82,000 kilograms of Campbell’s soup will provide a tasty and nutritious meal for over half a million of hungry Australians who need food assistance this coming winter.Campbell Arnott’s has donated the cans of soup to Foodbank, Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation. Foodbank feeds more than 60,000 people every day by acting as a conduit between major food and grocery manufacturers and retailers and 2,200 welfare agencies across the country. The significant... ...Read more »

Once the darling of Wall Street, Whole Foods Market spent much of the last 18 months out in the cold as it witnessed sales and profits slide in the face of the economic downturn. However, the company’s stock surged to a two-year high last Thursday after the natural and organic retailer reported strong sales and profits growth. With the economic outlook brightening, it seems Whole Foods is beginning to witness something of a renaissance. Katy Humphries reports.2009 was a disappointing year for... ...Read more »

Earlier this week, US First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled a Task Force action plan calling on food manufacturers to curb the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Here we take a closer look at the report and its recommendations. * According to the report, around one in five children are overweight or obese by the time they reach their 6th birthday, and over half of obese children become overweight at or before age two. Between 1980 and 2001, the prevalence of overweight infants under six months... ...Read more »

The Irresistible Gluten Free Show is a food expo that features food, goods and educational seminars to those interested in gluten free lifestyles, wheat free diets, general good health, for those with coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other food intolerances. The target is the general public, food industry, health professionals, and all foodies. Date: 15 May – 16 May 2010 Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Date: 2 October – 3 October 2010 Location:... ...Read more »

The National Heart Foundation of Australia has released a summary of research on antioxidants which warns that drinking red wine or coffee and eating chocolate to prevent heart disease will not achieve expected results. The Heart Foundation reviewed over 100 studies to confirm that eating fruit and vegetables and drinking tea helps lower your risk of heart disease. The Heart Foundation’s advice to consumers is not to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease by eating chocolate (milk or dark),... ...Read more »