Coles Supermarkets have announced a range of new gourmet beef products featuring Angus and Wagyu beef. Angus and Wagyu beef are both known for their marbling and tenderness, and are amongst the most prized beef products in the world.  According to the Australian Wagyu Association, an Angus cow can fetch up to $2000 wholesale, and a purebred Wagyu cow can fetch up to $4500. Coles General Manager of Meat, Allister Watson said customers want quality that doesn’t cost the earth. “Coles scours the... ...Read more »

New research from America has shown the burger industry outdoing the fast-food sector in general as premium burgers reign supreme. The solid results by chains like McDonald’s and Burger King were largely driven by strong concept positioning and the introduction of new premium burgers, according to Technomic. Value has also been a key with the $1 burger a key plank in a battle between industry giants. Other well received ideas have been healthier alternatives, more socially responsibility options... ...Read more »

Sales of beef products have surged by as much as 20 per cent at the Australian outlets of fast-food giant McDonald’s following the release of two premium burgers. The two Angus beef burgers have met with such strong interest that they have helped push overall burger sales to new heights, according to McDonald’s Australia Senior Vice President and Director of Supply Chain, Jackie McArthur. Accompanied by an estimated marketing spend of $10 million, the launch in late-August has been the... ...Read more »

Consumers are relying on restaurants to provide value in hamburgers through premiumisation, with a new report highlighting the burger attributes most important to consumers. According US-based foodservice industry consultant Technomic, consumers are more than willing to pay more for a specialty burger, especially a premium burger, regardless of restaurant segment. “(Burgers) may be one area of foodservice where (consumers) are less willing to cut back, despite the current economic environment,”... ...Read more »

Burger King, the world’s second largest burger chain, has reported a 2 per cent sales decline in the fourth quarter on the back of a weaker US dollar. The maker of the Whopper did, however, record a revenue gain of three per cent for the full-year as consumer demand for cheap, convenient food remained robust. Profit for the fourth quarter also rose – by 16% – comfortably outstripping analyst estimates thanks to a reduction in costs. Comparable sales were pressured by adverse macro-economic... ...Read more »

The Counter, a rapidly expanding American burger chain that enables consumers to build their own burgers, is coming to Sydney in December. At the innovative restaurant consumers are given a clipboard upon entry and asked to choose the ingredients they desire on their burger from an extensive list. The selection process begins with the decision of the type of burger – Angus beef, grilled chicken, turkey or veggie. Then one of ten cheeses, four out of a range of 28 toppings and one of 18 sauces... ...Read more »

Grill’d, one of Australia’s fastest growing franchises, is set to open their 21st store just four and a half years after the concept was launched in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. The achievements of Grill’d, like other recent success stories Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar and SumoSalad, can, to some degree, be put down to a focus on providing a healthier version of a much-loved product. In Crust’s case it was the pizza, for Grill’d it is the iconic burger. Their focus was... ...Read more »

The Australian CEO of the world’s leading fast-food chain McDonald’s, believes the childhood obesity issue is down to a lack of exercise, as debate rages about the responsibilities of food retailers, manufacturers and marketers. Chief Executive Peter Bush told the House of Representatives inquiry into obesity that there were a number of reasons for the drop off in exercise and believes new studies would absolve fast-food companies of much of the responsibility for the ‘obesity epidemic’.... ...Read more »

The NPD Group, a leading market research company, and Datassential, a foodservice research firm, found that 7 per cent more restaurants, from quick service to fine dining, offer burgers on their menus than did two years ago.NPD, who track and analyze consumer purchase behavior at restaurants, and Datassential, which analyzes menu trends, combined resources to provide restaurant operators with comprehensive market intelligence on emerging menu trends. Of the 300 products researched the burger was... ...Read more »