Following Facebook backlash over Subway ‘Footlong’ subs failing to meet the advertised size, Subway Australia has issued a statement that the ‘Footlong’ is simply “a descriptive name.” The Subway Australia statement was released on Friday after customers followed the lead of Perth customer Matt Corby by posting pictures of their Subway “Footlong” sub with a measuring tape, demonstrating that his sandwich was actually only 11 inches. However, Subway Australia’s claim of the use of... ...Read more »

In the past few years, one of the most popular claims for many new products manufactured in the US has been that they are Kosher certified.   As Australia develops as a reliable and safe food supplier to the world, Kosher is almost considered mandatory for export to the US. A recent study by leading consumer research company, Mintel, shows that a majority of consumers  who buy Kosher foods in America perceive Kosher packaged products as being safer, which may be due to the rigorous auditing methods... ...Read more »

The Coca-Cola Company United States has announced it will tackle obesity with the launch of a new campaign. Its two-minute video, titled “Coming Together,” debuts tonight in US time on national cable news to encourage consumers to be mindful of the calories they consume. The new campaign will be followed by a second video, “Be OK” to be clear about how many calories a Coca-Cola can contains and ‘fun ways’ to burn calories. Stuart Kronauge, General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola... ...Read more »

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a formal warning to McDonald’s in relation to its “Send to Friends” e-marketing campaign for McDonald’s Happy Meals. Various food companies in Australia have been criticised in the past year by consumer groups for targeting children in their marketing  (see recent Australian Food News reports such as criticism of Kellogg’s, criticism of junior sport promotion, and parental concerns about so-called pester power at supermarkets). Yet... ...Read more »

The King Oscar brand is celebrating its first 100 years in Australia with a re-launch of the brand by the importer Manassen Foods. The new campaign mentions the story of the production of “the smallest sardine species of them all” and describes how the company has been catching North Sea Brislings since 1902, and began exporting them to Australia in 1913. “Since then they have consistently delivered the premium quality that first caused King Oscar II to lend his name and portrait to the brand,”... ...Read more »

Supermarket consultant and trend-spotter Phil Lempert has released his top predictions for 2013 supermarket trends in the US. These trends presented at his website www.supermarketguru.com, are as follows: Mini-meals and portioning: According to Lempert, restaurants, food manufacturers and bakeries are making it easier to keep portion size in check by offering “small plates” and appetizers, along with pre-portioned packaged food. Men doing the grocery shopping: Lempert predicts that US grocery... ...Read more »

New research by the Cancer Council NSW and the University of Newcastle has found that Australian shoppers feel that supermarkets exacerbate the “pester power” pressure from children during the shopping experience. The study shows that supermarkets are still positioning confectionary promoted by cartoon and movie characters at the checkout, which Cancer Council NSW has described as “confectionery traps.” The joint Cancer Council NSW and the University of Newcastle study surveyed 158 parents... ...Read more »

ALDI supermarket group is ready to jingle a few bells this Christmas, ramping up its festive season advertising campaign with daily gift card giveaways. The ALDI gift card giveaway promotion follows Woolworths’ scented Christmas advertising, and Coles’ Christmas recipe offerings featuring celebrity chef Curtis Stone. The trend towards “Australian” marketing has been present in both Coles’ and Woolworths’ Christmas campaigns.  ALDI has released a series its own “Australian Santa”... ...Read more »

American-based nut brand Paramount Farms has launched its new “Wonderful Pistachio” range in Australia with a series of humorous television advertisements featuring well-known cartoon characters from The Simpsons, The Peanuts Gang, and Angry Birds. The new Australian campaign features Homer Simpson and Lucy from The Peanuts Gang attempting to crack “Wonderful Pistachio” nuts, which was tested with Australian audiences prior to its launch to see if it had “the right sense of quirkiness.” Paramount... ...Read more »

The lack of regulation over fast food sponsorship of junior sport was a barrier to the fight against obesity, the Obesity Summit in Canberra was told this morning. Craig Sinclair, a spokesperson for the Obesity Policy Coalition at Cancer Council Victoria said there were “no controls or regulations” on the exposure of children to junk food advertising and fast food brands through junior sport. “The local grass roots community clubs display the brand of their sport’s national sponsor often... ...Read more »