Young people are being encouraged to ‘open their minds’ to a career in agriculture, with the launch of a new information brochure by WA Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman at the Dowerin Field Days.Mr Redman said the ‘Open your mind: careers in agriculture’ origami-style brochure sought to inspire upper school students to consider the vast range of career opportunities in agriculture. “There are so many different, dynamic careers young people can pursue in agriculture,”... ...Read more »

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said the State’s grain growers would reap the benefits of a new partnership between Western Australian-based cereal breeding company InterGrain Pty Ltd and global bioscience technology company Monsanto Co. Mr Redman said the international breeding collaboration announced today was exciting news for the State’s wheat growers as they grappled with a difficult dry season. “Monsanto’s minority shareholding in InterGrain will enable access... ...Read more »

MasterChef madness has spilled into the Eagle Boys kitchen, with a surge in demand for choice-cut meat prompting the national pizza maker to launch its latest premium pizza, the Butcher’s Block. Eagle Boys has beefed up its meatiest pizza with chorizo, tender steak strips, double pepperoni, bacon rashers and ham, finished off with hollandaise sauce and fresh parsley. Eagle Boys CEO Todd Clayton said the Butcher’s Block was the result of market research into Australian tastebuds and would... ...Read more »

‘A Carlton, please!’ is a phrase that’s still shouted across every bar in every hotel in Australia. The Carlton was one of six breweries that united to form the company we know today as CUB (Foster’s), yet we still call it Carlton. This book is about the Carlton Brewery and the breweries in Melbourne that became part of it. It focuses on the people who struggled to develop a quintessential Australian beer. It is a snapshot of Australian culture and the grandeur of Victorian architecture. Brimming... ...Read more »

Nestlé, the world’s biggest buyer of coffee, will invest more than half a billion US dollars (CHF 500 million) in a wide-ranging plan, endorsed by the Rainforest Alliance, that will address responsible farming, sourcing and consumption across its coffee supply chain. Nestlé, which purchases around 780,000 tonnes of green coffee a year, or 10 per cent of the world’s supply, unveiled the Nescafé Plan in Mexico City today. The Nescafé Plan is a global initiative and builds on the US$220... ...Read more »

UK retailer Asda said it is “working hard behind on the scenes” on plans for its Netto stores, as it awaits approval from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for the purchase.Asda paid GBP778m (US$1.24bn) for the 193 outlets in May this year and earlier this month it said it is currently working with the OFT, which is reportedly requiring the retailer to sell some 30 of the Netto stores. Reports on Friday (27 August) suggest that Asda has submitted planning applications to convert several... ...Read more »

Japanese exporters may be suffering from the historically high yen, which traded at a record JPY84 to the US dollar this week – but for Japanese food importers and retailers it is boom time.In the wake of the yen’s recent rise, which is casting a shadow on Japan’s export-driven economy, the ministry conducted a survey last week (24 August) of around 200 companies, including about 20 major food and food retail firms. Around 40% of major food retailers in Japan said they will expand... ...Read more »

Top chefs and industry insiders will reveal the secrets of three-hat restaurants at Australia’s pre-eminent food industry event, Restaurant*, on 25-26 October 2010 at Sydney’s Royal Hall of Industries. Now in its fourth year, Restaurant* 2010 champions increased professionalism amongst the top restaurants in the country. “Restaurant* firmly focuses on the country’s top restaurants, fine dining and premier food experiences. This year’s event will see hatted chefs from... ...Read more »

Consumer group CHOICE has described Coles’ decision not to publish its in-store prices online as a major disappointment and has called on the supermarket chain to reconsider. Coles’ announcement means Australian shoppers will not be able to use the internet to compare the cost of shopping at the nation’s two major supermarkets, as is possible for airfares, “We at least expected Coles might try to put some of its prices online as ALDI does and Woolworths has started doing,”... ...Read more »

Nestlé on Wednesday completed the sale of its remaining shares in Alcon to Novartis, representing around 52% of Alcon’s share capital, for USD 28.3 billion.Nestlé acquired Alcon in 1977 for USD 280 million. Over the years, Nestlé supported Alcon’s R&D drive and international expansion, enabling the company to build a significant global leadership position in the eye care business. Taking into account the three steps of the gradual divestment of Alcon – the initial IPO of... ...Read more »