Australian Treasurer,Wayne Swan has disappointed food growers, producers and retailers with little new being offered them in the latest Federal budget, which was released by Mr Swan on 14 May 2013. Some in the Australian food industry are hoping that the forecast deficits of $19.4bn this financial year and $18bn next financial year underline a weakness in the economy that might trigger a drop in the Australian dollar. Some food manufacturers are now pinning their hopes on a predicted decline in value... Read more »

In the month leading up to this week’s Federal budget, a number of announcements have been made about Federal government funds being available on a selective basis for food-related projects. Recently,  the Australian Research Council announced that the Tasmanian-based sensory-monitoring technology company, Sense-T, would receive a significant funding injection from the Federal government for Sense-T’s Pathways to Market project. The Sense-T project would receive $2.5 million funding under the... Read more »

The Australian Government has launched a new website portal that provides links to best practice information on managing food allergies. The launch coincides with Food Allergy Awareness Week, which runs globally from 12-18 May 2013. The portal is a result of collaboration between Government, industry and consumer representatives and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Shayne Neummann, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing launched the new website portal, saying that it would provide... Read more »

Places are still available for an upcoming series of intensive workshops from leading food compliance consultants FoodLegal. The workshops will be run in both Sydney and Melbourne. 1. ‘Swim between the flags’ workshop  This workshop covers the best practices to identify when and how a non-compliance risk exists in any food marketing. This includes illustrations of non-compliance under Australian Consumer Law and what options can be considered. Choose your session: Friday 24th May: The... Read more »

Australian supermarket Coles has announced that some popular Australian brands will among a list of 40 new products to be added to its ‘Down Down’ savings list. The latest ‘Down Down’ price reduction features some iconic brands, including Vegemite, Old El Paso, Milo and Kellogg’s Cornflakes. The latest ‘Down Down’ campaign will feature rock band Status Quo with a unique version of the song ‘Whatever You Want’. The popular brands will receive their own version of the song in the... Read more »

Major Australian supermarkets appear to be gradually moving towards new store formats that will offer additional services or attempt to create a more ‘market-style’ environment. Woolworths recently advertised positions available for qualified butchers for its “exciting new concept stores”. Woolworths supermarkets also appear to be gradually changing their approach to the format of stores, perhaps in an attempt to emulate its rival Coles’ strategy of focusing on the customer in-store ‘experience’. In... Read more »

Australian-made products rated highly among Australian consumers, according to new findings from market research organisation Roy Morgan Research. The research found that 87.4 per cent of Australians more likely to buy food produced in Australia, while 88.5 per cent of Australians aged 14 plus said they were more likely to buy Australian-made products across all categories over products manufactured in other countries. The US and the UK also rated highly, with 56.2 per cent of Australians saying... Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCA) announced at its Annual General Meeting on 7 May 2013 that it expected to see a decline or 8 to 9 per cent in earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the first half of the 2013 financial year. Speaking at the meeting, Terry Davis, CCA’s Group Managing Director, said the first four months of trading had delivered “mixed results”, but that the Company expected to see a return to earnings growth in the second half. “In Australian beverages, the grocery channel... Read more »

Australian beef graziers yesterday held a crisis summit in Richmond in North-west Queensland to address ongoing low cattle prices. The low prices have been attributed to a “flooded market” because of poor seasonal conditions, a strong Australian dollar and the cumulative effect of the 2011 suspension of live cattle exports to Indonesia. According to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), cattle prices in Queensland in the week ending 2 May 2013 averaged 305 cents per kg cwt, while the Eastern Young... Read more »

The founder of Australian cereal manufacturer Carman’s Fine Foods, Carolyn Cresswell, is urging Australian women in the food industry to enter the 2013 Telstra Business Women’s Awards. Ms Creswell, who was named 2012 Telstra Business Woman of the Year, said winning the award in 2012 increased brand awareness for Carman’s Fine Foods, but that the entry process itself was also rewarding. “The entry process is very professional and detailed and it makes sure you do not leave a stone unturned.... Read more »