According to the latest Roy Morgan Supermarket Customer Satisfaction figures, customer satisfaction among IGA shoppers has grown by a full percentage point, bringing the independent retail group firmly into second place behind consistent front-runner Aldi. Among Aldi customers, 90.5% were satisfied, followed by IGA (89.5%), Woolworths (87.5%) and then Coles (85.5%) for the 6 month’s average to October 2010. IGA fell into last place in April last year, with satisfaction around 84%, but customer... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited has advised that following December trading, the largest volume and earnings month for the business, it expects to achieve around 10% growth in net profit and 7% growth in EBIT for the 2010 full year. The company said that the impact of the colder and wetter weather across the Eastern seaboard, in particular the flooding in Queensland, would result in EBIT growth of 5 to 5.5% for the second half, below the 7 to 8% previously advised target. However, CCA said that second half... ...Read more »

Schweppes Australia has added two new flavours to its family-favourite line, Schweppes Lemonade. Schweppes Limeade and Orangeade have no artificial colours or flavours and are sweetened with stevia, a natural plant extract, in addition to sugar, so contain absolutely no artificial sweetener. Schweppes said that using stevia as part of the sweetening of carbonated beverages is a “really exciting development”, representing “true innovation” in the beverages category. “Orangeade... ...Read more »

Packaging that alerts consumers to food which is starting to go off is being developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in the UK. The project aims to improve food safety and cut unnecessary food waste by developing a new type of indicator, made of ‘intelligent plastics’ which give a warning, by changing colour, of when food is about to lose its freshness because it has broken or damaged packaging, has exceeded its ‘best before’ date or has been poorly refrigerated. An... ...Read more »

The lockout of workers at the Swift meatworks in Brooklyn, Victoria, has entered its second month, after NUW members again voted to reject the company’s 2% annual pay offer. One hundred and forty cold storage workers at Swift Australia, Brooklyn had agreed to taking industrial action on December 3rd last year, following a wage offer they described as ‘well below the cost of living.’ “This pay offer will send workers and their families backwards at a time when workers are facing... ...Read more »

Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest ice cream brand, today announced the appointment of an experienced restaurant industry executive to lead its efforts in Australia. The company said that its new appointee, Ian Martin, General Manager, Australia/New Zealand, would bring a wealth of experience within the restaurant industry and a successful track record representing some of the world’s most prominent retail brands. The company said the move was in keeping with its plan to grow its brand in Australia... ...Read more »

The New Year often brings with it a rush of resolve to shape up for summer, but consumers are being urged not to fall for imported slimming coffee, tea and chocolate from China that could do them more harm than good, NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said today.”Everyone is full of good intentions as the year begins but generally if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” said Mr Whan. “The NSW Food Authority has recently seized a number of products marketed and... ...Read more »

Scandinavian food is tipped as the hottest UK culinary trend of 2011 and could even be a future shopping basket staple.Britain’s discovery of Nordic nosh follows the smash-hit success of Scandinavian fiction such as Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Wallander television series. Denmark’s Noma restaurant helped put Scandi food on the culinary map when it scooped the world’s best restaurant award last year. Scandinavian food is now poised to make a splash... ...Read more »

T’Gallant has welcomed a new Head Chef to its team in the vine-laden hills of the Mornington Peninsula. Hailing from The Press Club, and most recently the Executive Chef for Joseph’s Restaurant at Mansion Hotel & Spa, Robert Coley joined the team on December 3 and will oversee T’Gallant’s Italian inspired La Baracca Trattoria bistro.T’Gallant founder and winemaker, Kevin McCarthy, said: “It’s great to welcome Robert to our team. He has a fresh and passionate... ...Read more »

Sainsbury’s announced today that all tuna used as an ingredient in its food will be caught using the pole and line method by the end of this month. This move ensures that 100% of Sainsbury’s tuna across all products is responsibly sourced. Sainsbury’s fresh, frozen and canned tuna is already line caught. All of Sainsbury’s ready meals, sandwiches, pate, dips, salads, sandwich and potato fillers and sushi containing tuna will now be sourced using the more selective fishing... ...Read more »