Australia’s largest dairy processor, Parmalat, in conjunction with packaging giant Tetra, has launched a new white milk carton. Parmalat, which fields fresh white milk brands Pauls Full Cream, Rev and Skinny Milk in Victoria, claims the new packaging is the “first significant innovation in fresh white milk packaging for 10 years”. Parmalat’s Rowville processing plant, in Victoria, has been undergone a A$2.2 million refit to allow a shift from existing gable top cartons to the... ...Read more »

Australian brewer Foster’s has urged its shareholders to reject a bid from takeover suitor SABMiller. The Foster’s Board believes the offer “significantly undervalues” the company and has written to shareholders asking them to spurn SABMiller’s offer to buy all the shares in the company at a price of $4.90 per share. In a letter sent to shareholders today, Foster’s chairman David Crawford wrote, “Your board unanimously recommends you reject SABMiller’s... ...Read more »

The effectiveness of popular diet shakes for weight-management programs continues to divide opinion. Whilst celebrity testimonials and marketers claim the effectiveness of these products, health professionals contrive to challenge their efficacy in losing weight. The diet shake debate was reignited last week when Australian cricketer Shane Warne, speaking to Melbourne radio station 3AW, credited diet shakes for his own weight loss. According to recent figures from market researcher IBISWorld, more... ...Read more »

The Cancer Council of New South Wales has renewed calls for tighter regulations on using promotional characters on food packaging. It claims that nearly 75 per cent of promotional characters on Australian food packets spruik products that are high in fat, salt, and sugar. Research conducted by Cancer Council NSW with the University of Sydney’s Prevention Research Collaboration found that the market was “saturated” with licensed merchandise characters, such as cartoon characters, promoting less... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has announced that Penny Winn will be rejoining the company as Director Multi-Channel. The role involves driving Woolworths’ sales through online and mobile devices. In this new role Penny will consolidate Woolworths’ fastgrowing multi-channel strategies and help drive our online offers across all trading divisions. She will also take responsibility for customer engagement and analytics, including the supermarket chain’s Everyday Rewards program. Deputy... ...Read more »

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE claims unpackaged meat products sold in Australia should be subject to the same country of origin labelling requirements as other food products. Currently, the only unpackaged meat products that require country of origin labelling under the Australian Food Standards Code are pork and seafood. CHOICE wants mandatory labelling extended to unpackaged beef, sheep and chicken meat in accordance with a proposal by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ’s Proposal... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today announced it is appealing against the Federal Court’s judgment dismissing the ACCC’s application to prevent grocery and hardware wholesaler Metcash from acquiring the Franklins supermarket business. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said today, “We are appealing this case for two reasons. First, because of the adverse effect of the proposed acquisition on independent supermarket retailers, consumers and competition in the New South Wales... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s largest home-grown café groups, The Coffee Club, has bought Australian steakhouse chain Ribs and Rumps. The café group plans to open ten new Ribs and Rumps restaurants each year for the next ten years. Since opening its doors in Brisbane 21 years ago, The Coffee Club has grown to 273 stores. In 2008, hospitality and leisure company Minor International took a 50 per cent stake in The Coffee Club, fuelling future growth. This is the group’s first acquisition. The Coffee Club’s... ...Read more »

A chocolate brownie mix sold in Woolworths and Safeway supermarkets has been recalled over fears that it may contain undeclared milk. The Macro Gluten Free Choc Brownie Mix (400g) product, made by Yaffa’s Kitchen Pty Ltd, may pose a health risk to consumers who are allergic or intolerant to milk. In a statement released this week, Woolworths said, “Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume this product. Consumers who are not allergic to milk may safely consume this... ...Read more »

Australian dairy co-op Murray Goulburn has taken a majority stake in a new milk powder venture in Tasmania. Murray Goulburn announced it is investing in Tasmanian Dairy Products, a business set up in July 2011 to make milk powder for international markets. The company did not disclose how much it had invested in the venture. Murray Goulburn Chairman Grant Davies said, “Tasmanian Dairy Products will process milk at a new facility in Smithton in Tasmania, with production scheduled to start in the... ...Read more »