The sale of grocery retailer Franklins to local rival Metcash has come under scrutiny from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) which said it has serious concerns about the planned acquisition. The ACCC yesterday released a statement of issues, which said the proposed acquisition is likely to result in a “substantial lessening of competition in the market for the supply of packaged groceries to independent retailers in NSW”. The competition watchdog said it was particularly... ...Read more »

For the second year in a row, two of Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre’s budding young chef’s out-cooked seven other states to win top spot in the 2010 Nestle Golden Chefs Hat Awards in Melbourne last week. Cameron Wetton (21) and Shane Middleton (20) created a three course meal for the judging panel from which they achieved one silver and two gold medals for culinary excellence. The two gold medal winning courses included an entree of citrus butter baked barramundi with beetroot... ...Read more »

Rush low fat flavoured milk is offering consumers the chance to get outdoors and active with its new on-pack promotion, including instant daily prizes and an opportunity to win a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander to the value of $38,000. Each specially marked bottle of Rush, purchased between 23 August and 31 October 2010, holds an entry code. By entering the code online or via SMS, Rush consumers will be one step closer to being equipped for action. Rush Product Manager Melissa Packham, says “We have... ...Read more »

Hospitality Training Network (HTN) and MARS Food Australia coordinate Australia’s largest competition series annually for future chefs. The well publicised skills shortage in the commercial cookery sector highlights the need to promote the career of a professional chef and HTN actively pursues applicants to meet their demand average of 100 cooking apprenticeship vacancies listed all year round. The competition provides an ideal opportunity for cooking apprentices and trainees to engage in structured... ...Read more »

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has challenged the major political parties to declare their hand on a range of consumer issues in the lead up to the Federal election. The group sent letters to the Government and Opposition parties, as well as the Greens, asking them to outline their approach to consumer protection and list the five most significant priorities that will face whoever forms government after the August 21 poll. CHOICE has also delivered a detailed questionnaire which asks the parties... ...Read more »

- Vote for your favourite steak for the chance to win a trip to Buenos Aires -Are you the kind of person who boasts about knowing where the greatest steak is served? Well, now is the time to put your money where your mouth is and help your favourite steak venue be crowned Pepperjack’s National Steak Champion. Head down to your local participating restaurant, club or pub from 1 August 2010, and put their steak and reputation to the test. If you think their steak lives up to the standard of being... ...Read more »

Australian Good Taste Magazine has begun its annual search for Australia’s Home Cook of the Year, with the 2010 Golden Whisk Awards now open to passionate amateur cooks with simple, great recipes to share. The competition has partnered with Channel 10′s morning program The Circle, allowing viewers to vote on recipes, as well as giving them a chance at a year’s worth of groceries from Woolworths and weekly gift cards. The most popular recipe will receive a new $500-prize People’s... ...Read more »

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in the UK has decided to drop certain allegations against Tesco as part of its Dairy investigation, at the same time as agreeing a penalty discount in recognition of Tesco notifying the OFT that it does not intend to contest the remaining aspects.Having considered detailed representations and new evidence from Tesco following the issue of the Statement of Objections in September 2007, and a supplementary Statement of Objections, the OFT has concluded that the evidence... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a Statement of Issues in relation to the proposed acquisition of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company (WCB) by Murray Goulburn.  A Statement of Issues published by the ACCC is not a final decision about a proposed acquisition, but provides the ACCC’s preliminary views, drawing attention to particular issues of varying degrees of competition concern, as well as identifying the lines of further inquiry that the ACCC... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has authorised a further five years of collective bargaining between Victorian chicken growers and processors Baiada Poultry, Inghams Enterprises, Hazeldene Chicken Farm and Turi Foods. Chicken growers will be able to form bargaining groups according to which processor they supply in order to negotiate contracts.  The arrangements are voluntary for both processors and growers, and individuals may negotiate directly if they (or their processor) want... ...Read more »