A newly-formed industry body for the café and sandwich shop industry, the Australasian Sandwich Association, has kicked off in style with two major industry partners, GWF Foodservice (a subsidiary of George Weston Foods) and New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra. GWF Foodservice and Fonterra will assist the industry body’s efforts in liaising with government and regulatory bodies over issues affecting the café and sandwich sector. In addition, the industry alliance will formulate a calendar of specific... ...Read more »

Unilever has announced that two more of its Hellmann’s Mayonnaise products will use 100% cage-free eggs in the United States. Hellmann’s Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise and its Reduced Fat Mayonnaise with Olive Oil have now been transitioned to cage-free eggs, a move that the company says is part of a plan to transition all its recipes to higher-welfare ingredients. “Coming off of last year’s successful launch of Hellmann’s Light with 100 percent cage-free eggs, we are excited... ...Read more »

Parmalat, the Italian dairy processor and owner of Australian dairy brand Paul’s, has turned down a bid from largest shareholder and French dairy giant Lactalis to buy the whole of the business. The company said that its board of directors had met yesterday (17 May) to review Lactalis’s EUR3.4bn (US$4.83bn) bid for the 71% of the group it does not already own. After looking at the offer and an analysis of the bid from advisers Goldman Sachs, Parmalat said its directors had “unanimously... ...Read more »

10 -13 July 2011: During four days in July, more than 9,000 key decision makers from Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing and processing industries are anticipated to attend the triennial Foodpro, the largest Australasian food and beverage industry trade exhibition of its kind. The attendees recognise time at Foodpro as a critical business investment.  After all, this industry sector, generating sales and service income of more than $100 billion annually, is the nation’s largest, encompassing... ...Read more »

McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand has announced a new “overarching global company philosophy”, pledging to “spread the goodness” with reformulation of products to eliminate additives or preservatives, emphasise its School Veggie Patches campaigns and highlight the benefits of fresh-frozen foods, and increase product transparency, which it says is “sure to further strengthen McCain Foods reputation in Australia and New Zealand.” “McCAIN has always been... ...Read more »

French dairy giant Danone, through its joint venture with dairy co-op Murray Goulburn, has announced the Australian launch of its popular yoghurt Activia. A leading global brand, Activia is sold in 68 countries, with more than 32 million 125g units of Activia consumed every day around the world. The yoghurt will be marketed largely to women, with a new advertising campaign citing commissioned research by Galaxy that “two out of three Australian women feel fat, lethargic and lack confidence... ...Read more »

Associated British Foods has announced that its Allied Bakeries business is investing in growing its healthy bread brand Burgen in the United Kingdom. Burgen, developed by ABF’s Australian subsidiary George Weston Foods in 1994, was the first soy linseed bread on the Australian market, and has a substantial market share in Australia. Associated British Foods, which also manufactures the Allinson and Kingsmill bread brands, will invest GBP 200,000 (A$305,496) in a bid to increase awareness of... ...Read more »

New research into food allergy in Australia has alarmingly revealed that 1 in every 10 children is now food allergic. This year during Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW), which runs May 16th – 21st, Anaphylaxis Australia aims to reach those who don’t have food allergies. “We want to highlight the fact that there is no longer any excuse to not know how serious food allergy is. Gone are the days when food allergy was rare and people denied it was real. Researchers have watched the prevalence... ...Read more »

Wallace McCain, chairman of Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods, and co-founder of frozen chip maker McCain Foods, has died at the age of 81. McCain died on Friday (13 May) in Toronto following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was announced by Maple Leaf’s board, which is yet to appoint his successor. “His incredible success in business was always balanced with the importance of family and community,” said Michael McCain, CEO of Maple Leaf Foods and Wallace’s son.... ...Read more »

Australia’s supermarket industry faces losing up to 40,000 jobs if the grocery war continues, according to Ritchies CEO Fred Harrison. “Continued hacking away at prices by Coles to gain a market advantage is threatening the jobs of thousands of workers – particularly young people and women, who make up the bulk of the people in the sector,” he said. Harrison said 65% of the cost of operating a supermarket was wages – and staff would be the first area to cut to maintain profitability. “You... ...Read more »