McDonald’s has released its global sales results for the second quarter, with earnings up 15%, including a 4.6% rise in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and African region, thanks to strong sales in Australia and China. Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner said “McDonald’s second quarter reflects strong top-line and bottom-line results with each area of the world generating higher comparable sales, traffic and profits”. “This performance demonstrates the popular appeal of... ...Read more »

Australia’s second largest pizza maker Eagle Boys Pizza has been named Joint Winner of the 2010 Australian Business Award for Retail Excellence in recognition of its recent growth, achievements and contribution to the industry. Eagle Boys was selected from 186 entries from a range of Australian private and public companies and organisations. The Australian Business Awards is a national awards program honouring organisations that demonstrate the core values of business excellence, product excellence,... ...Read more »

In an Australian first, Farm Pride has launched Powdered Whole Eggs onto Australian supermarket shelves.  The 150 gram packs are equivalent to a dozen eggs, and are now located in the baking aisle of all Coles stores nationally. With a long shelf life, Farm Pride’s Powdered Whole Eggs can be used in any recipe requiring fresh eggs including cakes and biscuits, pies and quiches, pasta, even omelettes and scrambled eggs. Since Farm Pride Powdered Whole Eggs have been pasteurised, they are shelf... ...Read more »

New Zealand’s Regal Salmon has landed the meat and smallgoods award at the 6th annual Food Magazine Challenge Awards with its Regal Smoked Salmon Pastrami. The win for the Kiwi company comes hot on the heels of its success at the iTQi awards in Belgium where the product gained a two-star award. The Food Magazine Challenge Awards recognise and reward industry leaders in their drive for ‘best practice’ food and drink processing in Australia and New Zealand. They also acknowledge those... ...Read more »

Nestlé has a strong and growing business in coffee mixes worldwide. This business is especially strong in the Asia Pacific region, and is expected to continue to grow over the coming years. In response to this growing demand for coffee mixes, Nestlé has created a new hub for innovation in beverages in Singapore to serve the Asia Pacific Region. This new regional hub, which is a team of technical specialists, will be located at the company’s R&D Centre in Singapore. It will extend Nestlé’s... ...Read more »

Muesli4Me is a new company in Australia to offer a ‘mix your own’ muesli online sales service. Customers can pick and choose from a variety of over 80 ingredients and have them delivered to their home or office. Ingredients vary from standard rolled oats to unique candied ginger and zany yoghurt coated goji berries. Muesli4Me was launched in June 2010 by Sydney based entrepreneur Claudia Zwar and chef Ben Rak. Sick and tired of searching for their perfect muesli, Ben and Claudia decided... ...Read more »

Australia’s emissions reduction policy must maintain the competitiveness of Australian export and import-competing industries – such as food and grocery – without exposing them to costs their competitors don’t face, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said on Friday.Responding to Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement on climate change, AFGC agreed with a national consultative approach to emissions reduction that does not give any country an unfair competitive... ...Read more »

It will come as no surprise to those following the food industry news to learn that two of the top five most-read stories on just-food this week are about the potential sale of UK snack and biscuit maker United Biscuits.The prospect of a deal, despite the fact that it is still to be confirmed by the company itself, has captured the imagination as only a large M&A move can. Along with the rumours over the possible change of ownership at French yoghurt maker Yoplait and reported bids for John West... ...Read more »

US grocery retailer A&P on Friday (23 July) named its second chief executive in six months after appointing former OfficeMax executive Sam Martin to replace Ron Marshall.Martin succeeds Marshall, who was only appointed in January, as president and CEO of A&P, which saw losses balloon its most recent fiscal year ending 27 February. A&P, which also posted an adjusted net loss of $51m for the first quarter of its current fiscal year, said Martin had “an ideal mix” of experience... ...Read more »

The Gillard Government will be funding $33,000 to Standards Australia to support the Australia Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products “The OFA initiated the Australia Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products to ensure credibility of organic products.” Andre Leu, Chair of the Organic Federation of Australia says. “We are very pleased that the Gillard Government has agreed to fund the ongoing maintenance of this standard”. “As the peak industry body for the Australian... ...Read more »