The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has again called upon the Australian Government to take action to help Australian food manufacturers cope with “immense pressures” on their business. The AFGC’s call coincides with last Friday’s closure of Heinz Australia’s tomato sauce factory in Girgarre, Victoria. Despite the Girgarre closing, Heinz Australia continues to manufacture in the Goulburn Valley region through its baby food factory in Echuca. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell... ...Read more »

Nestlé has resumed its operations in Zimbabwe following the suspension of its activities last month over a dispute on buying milk from suppliers linked to the wife of President Robert Mugabe. The Swiss food giant said the Zimbabwe plant had received a visit from government officials on 19 December who forced staff to take delivery of a tanker of milk from non-contracted suppliers. Two of its managers were questioned by police and released without charge the same day. As a result, Nestlé said it... ...Read more »

The world’s largest food manufacturer has suspended operations at its dairy plant in Zimbabwe due to safety concerns. Nestlé decided in October to sever ties with farms owned by Grace Mugabe – the wife of controversial president Robert Mugabe – after facing a barrage of criticism when the link was discovered. The company said at the time that, given a number of their dairy suppliers in the country had gone bust early this year, they had little choice but to source milk from Mugabe-owned... ...Read more »