Margy Osmond, CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association, has reported that retailers are keen to participate with government on new plastic bag initiatives following the successful trial of a levy in Victoria a couple of months ago. “We welcome the opportunity to continue and grow our partnership with the Victorian and other state governments to develop a model to further reduce the use of plastic bags,” Mrs Osmond said in response to the Environment Ministers meeting in Adelaide... ...Read more »

Molson Coors has been identified as the mystery stakeholder in Australia’s largest brewer, Foster’s, strengthening speculation of a takeover. Deutsche Bank bought a 5.26% stake in Foster’s on behalf of a previously unidentified client on September 25, while rumours circulated that the stake could be an indication of a possible takeover bid in the near future. Molson Coors, which has operations in the US, Canada and the UK, made the announcement overnight when presenting their third... ...Read more »

For many Australians the idea of running their own successful brewing business is a dream, but for Scott Garnett, Managing Director of Barons Brewing Company, it is a reality. Together with university mate Richard Adamson they have managed to make a major impact in the intensely competitive Australian and international beer markets. They are now Australia’s largest independent craft brewing company, have major export deals with distributors in the US and Russia and a number of awards to boot.... ...Read more »

IGA Barraba is tomorrow set to become the first supermarket in New South Wales to place a permanent ban on plastic bags. The store owners, John and Karen Bishton, are encouraging customers to use re-useable bags - which are sold at three for $1. They will also offer re-usable bags on loan. IGA Barraba is the largest retailer in the north western NSW town, and accounts for approximately 85 per cent of plastic bag usage among the small town’s 2000 residents. It is now well on the way to joining... ...Read more »

Business information analysts IBISWorld have released their forecast for what Australians will be piling into their shopping baskets in five years’ time. With slower economic growth encouraging more frugal supermarket spending, and increasing health consciousness at the forefront of many a shoppers’ mind, there is a noticeable change in the food Australian consumers are choosing, noted IBISWorld’s General Manager (Australia), Robert Bryant. Demand for dairy Dairy consumption is... ...Read more »

Restaurant and Catering Australia (R&CA) announced the launch of the Green Table Australia initiative on Monday night, which will encourage restaurants to reduce their impact on the environment. Restaurants that adhere to the “best practice” suggestions of the program will be awarded with a Green Table logo that they can proudly put on display at their restaurant. The initiative is based on the Green Table scheme successfully set-up in Canada and was officially launched at the Savour... ...Read more »

Modern supermarkets and retailers are constantly looking at new ways to utilise every bit of available space to promote and advertise. Retailers often hang signs from the ceiling, glue banners to the floor, add placards to shelves in every aisle and use the trolley as a promotional device. But the freezer door, save from a few carefully placed stickers, has often remained largely unused. The primary problem has always been the potential to reduce the ability of the customer to see the products housed... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australia’s peak food and grocery manufacturing industry association, has welcomed the Rudd Government’s launch of the Measure Up campaign to tackle obesity in the community. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said that any additional tool to help educate the community about their health was always a welcome addition. The $30 million campaign will involve print and TV advertising imploring people to measure their waists to see if they are at high... ...Read more »

West Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has praised the extraordinary recent growth of the organic industry in Western Australia. “Farm gate sales of certified organic produce have increased by more than 80 per cent in the past three years in Australia and the WA organic industry is experiencing a similar rise in demand from consumers,” Mr Redman told members of the Organic Growers Association of Western Australia (OGAWA) at a function in Perth last night to celebrate... ...Read more »

Australian independent supermarket operator Foodworks has outlined a new strategy to enhance and manage distribution of their private label offering - with the help of a logistical partnership with CEVA Logistics. The logistics group will be in charge of the supply chain and warehousing of the FoodWorks’ own house brand products, as FoodWorks embarks on a plan to improve their private label range. Foodworks, which operates over 700 supermarkets, is currently involved in a long-term supply agreement... ...Read more »