With the new financial year upon us, business information research and analysis group IBISWorld has compiled its annual list of Australian industries set to fly and fall in the next 12 months. According to IBISWorld, organic farming will be the biggest winner in 2010-2011 as Australians consider the health benefits and environmental impacts of their food choices.Whereas most of the world’s developed nations remain bogged down by the fallout from the ongoing global financial crisis, Australia’s... ...Read more »

With the chill of winter well and truly upon us, the risk of viral gastro contamination heats up, Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan warned today as he urged chefs and cooks to take care in the kitchen during the peak viral gastro season.”This warning applies particularly to those food industry professionals who come into contact with the preparation and service of food for hundreds, if not thousands of people,” Minister Whan said. “If you’re crook don’t cook is... ...Read more »

At Sunday morning’s keynote session of the 2010 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo®, incoming IFT President Bob Gravani and President-Elect Roger Clemens announced and presented five companies with the 2010 IFT Food Expo Innovation Awards. The winners are Bühler Barth AG and Log5 Corporation (co-recipients), Bunge North America, Caravan Ingredients, and Handary SA. A panel of nine jurors from industry and government with broad expertise in research &... ...Read more »

Delhaize has announced that its US banners will operate under a new sustainable seafood sourcing programme.The Belgian retailer’s Hannaford, Sweetbay, Bottom Dollar Food and Food Lion family of banners will procure seafood from sources that are managed to sustain levels for current and future generations. The new policy means all suppliers will have to verify that seafood is coming from sources managed for sustainability and encouraged local sourcing. The move will cover all seafood sold in... ...Read more »

Discount grocery retailer Aldi is withdrawing from Greece, it was confirmed on Firday (16 July). The German retailer plans to dispose of 38 outlets in Greece and is currently in talks to sell the stores. The market exit is the first in the company’s history. Planet Retail analyst Milos Ryba said: “Aldi has had problems from the beginning. It could not find reasonably priced plots. It was opening stores close to Schwarz Group’s Lidl but was not able to compete on price.” Ryba... ...Read more »

The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation is extremely concerned for the future viability of dairy farmers following the release of details of current negotiations between collective groups of dairy farmers and the dairy processing company National Foods. Last week the Queensland-based collective bargaining group of dairy farmers, Progressive Dairies, publicly released details of its price and supply negotiations with National Foods. The figures released present that National Foods is seeking... ...Read more »

Nan Fong Trading Company has initiated a food recall of Saigon Fish Sauce as a number bottles contain high levels of yeast.  The yeast is not harmful but could create fermentation, resulting in a slight risk of cap discharge. Consumers should not consume this product and are asked to return them to the point of purchase for a full refund. The recall applies to Saigon Fish Sauce 200ml glass bottles, best before 15/05/2011 only.  For further information please contact Nan Fong Trading Company on... ...Read more »

Recommendations in a draft review of bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), released today by the Productivity Commission (PC), would lower the threshold for Australian trade negotiations and carve out our precious farm exports, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) warned. The draft states: “In determining its approach to particular bilateral and regional trade agreements, Australia should adopt a more flexible approach to the comprehensiveness of agreements, including... ...Read more »

An ice cream you do not have to freeze, and chocolate pills which extend life expectancy are among the world’s newest consumer goods identified by Product Launch Analytics. Cesar Pereira, Research Manager at Product Launch Analytics said: “The new launches we’re seeing this month focus on innovation in flavour and composition rather than ingredients. The chocolate pills are an example of the growing trend which we’re seeing build month-on-month, where chocolate is being... ...Read more »

Netherlands firm Albert Heijn has launched an app for its customers to help them create shopping lists by scanning barcodes of products they are running out of using their mobile phone camera. The app, dubbed Appie, also sorts the groceries on the lists according to the walking route in their local Albert Heijn store, the Dutch grocery retailer said. The app also includes features like ‘auto suggest’, ‘recipe finder’ and ‘add to prior purchases’. The Ahold-owned... ...Read more »