A report released this month in the US has found that retailers are not adequately responding to the rising trend of consumers using mobile phone technology while shopping in supermarkets and other retail stores. The report, title “the Future of In-Aisle Mobile: A Framework for Consumer-Centered Innovation”, was released by White Horse Digital Futures Group, which specialises in consumer technologies. The report found that more consumers are able to use their smartphones to scan, research... ...Read more »

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) has announced it is continuing its proceedings against diet spray company Sensaslim Australia Pty Ltd. The ACCC has alleged that the diet spray company and several of its officers engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and made false representations in promoting their weight loss product ‘Sensaslim’. The ACCC allegations include that the company falsely claimed its dietary product was subject to a large worldwide clinical trial.... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has today recalled boxes of Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Clusters after a few consumers found a small piece of plastic in their cereal. The national recall applies to 450g and 540g boxes marked Best Before 21/03/2012 (540g), 22/03/2012 (540g) and 01/06/2012 (450g). Customers who have purchased this product should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Read More →

British Medical Journal website reports a new study has found one in six fast food customers in New York City have used calorie information and, on average, bought food with lower calories since the 2008 introduction of a new labelling system. Labelling requirements for chain restaurants In response to the growing problem of obesity, New York had implemented a law in 2008 to apply to all chain restaurants with 15 or more branches nationally. The law stipulated that such chain restaurants must provide... ...Read more »

Coles food and liquor sales grew 6.3 per cent in the financial year, ended 30 June 2011, up from 5.0 per cent for the 2010 financial year, Wesfarmers Limited has announced today. Wesfarmers, the publicly-listed parent company that owns Coles, Bunnings, Target and Kmart, announced an overall ‘solid’ retail performance, especially given the backdrop of declining consumer confidence, significant price deflation and the adverse weather conditions experienced during the past twelve months. Coles... ...Read more »

The results of Neilsen’s latest Global Online Consumer Confidence Survey (released 27 July 2011) reveal that increases in costs of living are undermining the confidence of Australian consumers. Australian consumer concerns coincide with the uncertainties common to countries that faired worse than Australia during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Global picture The increasing price of food was consumers’ top global concern, for the second quarter in a row: •      Nearly one-fifth... ...Read more »

Western Australian organic farmer Steve Marsh is suing his neighbour after genetically modified (GM) canola seed is alleged to have contaminated his property in late 2010, leading to the loss of his organic certification. Marsh has alleged that his neighbour’s negligence resulted in the GM contamination of his land. Slater & Gordon Lawyers and the anti-GM fund-raising organisation The Safe Food Foundation are assisting in his in his attempt to seek damages for financial losses. “I am pleased... ...Read more »

Australian retailers are facing tougher times, as revealed by the latest figures.There has been a slowdown in spending growth as well as structural changes occurring in the retail sector in Australia. The slowdown facing the retail industry was acknowledged by the Reserve Bank governor, Glenn Stevens, in a speech given yesterday in Sydney. He noted that despite the fact that increase in household income has sped up over the past three years, Australian household consumption spending has in fact slowed... ...Read more »

The ABC’s Delicious Magazine annual Produce Awards for 2011 were announced in Sydney this week. These awards recognise the best Australian produce in a number of categories, and finalists from each Australian State were assessed by a national judging panel. The national judging panel included some of Australia’s top chefs, such as Matt Moran (ARIA Restaurant, New South Wales and Queensland), Philip Johnson (E’cco Bistro, Queensland), Cheong Liew (The Botanical, Victoria), Alla Wolf-Tasker... ...Read more »

Random audits by the Fair Work Ombudsman have revealed that more than one-quarter of non-franchised take-away outlets in Queensland food courts are not complying with workplace laws. Fair Work is the government agency responsible for Australia’s workplace rights and rules, including awards and employment standards. Fair Work checked the record-keeping, pay-slip practices and minimum pay rates of 128 food court businesses in Queensland in the past year, following a rise in complaints from workers... ...Read more »