The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced it will oppose the proposed acquisition by Australia’s major supermarket group Woolworths Limited (Woolworths) of a supermarket site in Glenmore Park located off Sydney’s M4 Western Motorway by the Nepean River. At the same time, the ACCC has announced it is opposing the acquisition by major baby food producer Heinz acquisition of its major competitor, Rafferty’s Garden. No second Woolworths at Glenmore Park The ACCC said... ...Read more »

Family-owned tea company Dilmah Australia will run the ‘Real High Tea Challenge’ for the third year running, encouraging entrants to create a ‘culinary masterpiece’ using Dilmah tea. The national competition, which Dilmah Australia says is “responsible for leading the emerging tea gastronomy movement”, is open to food service and hospitality professionals in Australia. The winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Sri Lanka, the home of Dilmah tea. The Real High Tea Challenge,... ...Read more »

Of all Australian small businesses, competition is most fierce for businesses selling food and groceries, according to the latest findings from market researcher Roy Morgan Research. Research found that competition affected the business performance of 55 per cent of small food retailers, such as grocers and convenience stores, in the last 12 months. This figure is 23 per cent higher than for small businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees) across all sectors, and 12 per cent higher than other... ...Read more »

Melbourne’s reputation as the coffee capital of Australia has been cemented by the launch of Australia’s first international coffee roasting competition. Entries for the inaugural Australian International Coffee Awards (AICA) will open on Tuesday 2 April 2013, in the lead up to the 2013 International Coffee Expo (MICE) and World Barista Championships, and judging will be conducted from Tuesday 7 May 2013 to Thursday 9 May 2013 at Melbourne Showgrounds. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has raised concern over Heinz’s proposed acquisition of fellow wet and dry infant food company, Rafferty’s Garden. The Australian baby food sector is currently dominated by Heinz at 39 per cent volume of the market. Rafferty’s Garden makes up 16 per cent of the Australian baby food market, taking Heinz’s potential share to 55 per cent if the acquisition is approved. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said that combining two large Australian baby... ...Read more »

Woolworths has launched a competition to find the next great Aussie snag in the lead up to Australia Day, inviting customers to vote online for their ‘ultimate sausage.’ The winner will have their sausage produced and available for a limited time in Woolworths supermarkets in their State later in 2013.  They will also receive the ‘Ultimate BBQ’ for them and 24 friends which will include an appearance by Sam Kekovich, with food, drink and entertainment in their own backyard. Entrants, via... ...Read more »

A legal battle between Australia’s largest supermarket group Woolworths Limited and the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) may be looming. Originally what seemed to be a dispute over the market impact of Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of the Hawker Supa IGA, Canberra’s only independent full-size supermarket, has now escalated. The ACCC has sought to implement an initial six-month trial of a “streamlined assessment protocol” for single supermarket acquisitions, including... ...Read more »

SPC Ardmona has upset Australian peach growers with its decision to cut the amount of fruit purchased this year. SPC has said that SPC will cut its peach quota by 17 per cent due to a “significant fall” in consumer demand. Peach growers have reported that they were only informed of the cut after they began preparing for the season, with some individual businesses expected to lose tens of thousands of dollars. In spite of this, SPC Ardmona has said the company genuinely believed that the cut was... ...Read more »

Coles managing director Ian McLeod has become vocal in the media circuit by responding quickly to criticisms of Coles by politicians, farmer and supplier groups, and newspaper commentators. Recent media appearances by Mr McLeod have included an interview on Melbourne radio station Triple M and an opinion piece by Mr McLeod, published in both The Age newspaper and Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 20 October 2012. His article was in response to a critique of Coles written the previous weekend by Michael... ...Read more »

Speaking today (13 September 2012) to the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leaders Lunch in Perth,  Mr Rod Sims, Chairman of  Australia’s business and consumer watchdog government agency the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), outlined the current ACCC priorities. COMPETITION PRIORITIES Mr Sims said that at any one time the ACCC had between 40 and 50 cases in the Federal Court. Currently, around one quarter related to competition issues. “We currently also... ...Read more »