Territory seafood consumers will have their chance to have their say on the Territory’s first-of-its-kind seafood labelling laws, introduced by the NT Government two years ago. The Territory introduced Australia’s first fresh produce Country of Origin labelling as a condition of licences to sell seafood in the NT in 2008. NT Minister for Fisheries Kon Vatskalis last year also provided $17,500 to the NT Seafood Council, for a promotional campaign to encourage Territorians to buy local seafood.... ...Read more »

UK supermarket chain Tesco has sent a letter to its major suppliers asking them to reduce their carbon footprint by 30% before 2020. Speaking at the IGD’s annual convention on Tuesday, Tesco’s commercial and marketing director Richard Brasher said that the retailer would not enforce the reductions. However, he added: “Those who produce green products will be rewarded”. On collaboration in the grocery sector, Brasher, who will become the chief executive of Tesco’s UK... ...Read more »

Burger connoisseurs have been enjoying the Grill’d experience of burgers ‘made with love’ since the first restaurant opened in Melbourne’s Hawthorn in 2004. Now the burger love is going mobile with the arrival of the Grill’d Airstream which will be making appearances across Sydney and Melbourne this summer.The Grill’d Airstream, iconic in style and design, is a unique take on the traditional burger van. Airstream caravans have a classic cult status in the US and we’re... ...Read more »

The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation firmly believes that foreshadowed irrigation cuts in the Murray Darling Basin would have a devastating impact on farmers and their families, the dairy industry and rural communities. Last week, the Murray Darling Basin Authority announced its guide to the Proposed Basin Plan. It announced massive cutbacks to Queensland surface water ranging from 27% to 37%, and even higher in less-developed river systems where the cuts could be as high as 45%. QDO is... ...Read more »

Exhibitor and sponsor spaces for the first ever MasterChef Live event in Sydney this December are filling up fast with some of Australia’s top brands already on board including Coles, Jaguar, Tefal and Sunbeam. The new live event will build on the power of the MasterChef brand with a Festival of Cooking and live theatre show to be held from 10-12 December at the Hordern Pavilion and Royal Hall of Industries at Moore Park, NSW. The mouth-watering Festival of Cooking will allow visitors to taste... ...Read more »

Visiting international chefs and Sydney gourmands were treated to a lunch in the grounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens today featuring some of the most exciting cuisine that has ever crossed their palate – from the Australian Bush. Jennice and Raymond Kersh of the award-winning restaurant Edna’s Table conjured up a culinary riposte to the debate sparked at the International Sydney Food Festival by Danish chef Rene Redzepi’s comments that Australian chefs need to develop a native... ...Read more »

Food franchises must evolve to remain competitive as consumers gravitate to products that can be customised to their individual tastes, an industry veteran says. Stan Gordon, executive chairman of Melbourne-based Franchised Food Company (FFCo), which owns Cold Rock Ice Creamery, said consumers were drawn to products which allowed them to express their individuality in an increasingly crowded and competitive marketplace. “Consumers are looking to be masters of their own ‘Youniverse’... ...Read more »

Immense opportunities in the Indian confectionery market are encouraging confectionery companies from the West to enter into the Indian horizon by launching more and more new products for Indian consumers. India, today, is in its ‘sunshine period’ owing to the fast paced economic development in the country. The country’s healthy growth has insulated it from the impact of the global economic turmoil. All these have led to higher consumer spending in the country. As a result, many multinational... ...Read more »

Europe’s food retail industry is set to see the return of mergers and acquisitions, analysts at J.P.Morgan Cazenove said yesterday (12 October) as they started their coverage of the sector.In a report covering 12 European grocers from Carrefour and Colruyt to Ahold and Tesco, Matthew Truman and Paul Diamond argued retailers had to respond to moves from food manufacturers that are driving scale and broadening their global reach. Truman and Diamond said “initial overtures” were starting... ...Read more »

The global cost of Fairtrade cocoa will rise in January, certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) has announced. From 1 January, the “Fairtrade Minimum Price” – a floor which buyers must always pay – will rise to US$2,000 a metric tonne. The New Year will also see cocoa farmers earn US$200 in a “Fairtrade Premium” for every metric tonne of the ingredient they sell – up from $150 a tonne. The “premium” is added... ...Read more »