The recent first quarter trading update from Japanese-owned Australian food and beverage manufacturer Lion shows a volume increase of 14 per cent in the beer, wine and spirits category for the quarter ended 31 December 2012, despite an overall slowing of the category’s market. Lion said the alcohol sales volume increase came because of its acquisition of international premium and craft brands. But the Company reported that its dairy and drinks category faced challenges in the first quarter, and... ...Read more »

Creditors have decided to allow Northern Tasmanian dairy company Tamar Valley Dairy (Tamar) to continue trading, despite the Company reportedly owing up to $9 million. Sydney-based accountants Lawler Partners met with creditors in Launceston last Friday to ask for up to four months of “breathing space” for Tamar. Tamar moved to a new $20 million factory last year, and secured a 10 year-supply contract with Coles. The Company’s Managing Director, Archie Matteo, told The Australian that the Company’s... ...Read more »

Almost at the same time as reaching a momentous 10-year supply deal with Coles supermarket group and expanding its processing facilities, Australia’s largest dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (Murray Goulburn) announced on 18 April 2013 that it had acquired an additional 1.2 million shares in dairy producer Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Limited (WCB). This takes Murray Goulburn’s shareholding to a 14.5 per cent stake in WCB. Australian Food News reported... ...Read more »

Australian chai tea producer Bondi Chai has launched take-home chai latte packs, to be sold in Woolworths supermarkets. The Company previously marketed its chai latte powder only in large packs designed for the foodservice sector. The product is a blend of vanilla, honey, cinnamon, ginger, and “exotic” spices with a Darjeeling tea base. It is available in two flavours – ‘Vanilla Honey’ and ‘Club Cinnamon’. Bondi Chai said it currently sells one tonne, or 100,000 servings, of its chai... ...Read more »

According to the ‘Australian Food Statistics 2011-12’ report released recently by the Australia Government, Australia’s dairy exports were worth $2,311 million in 2011-12. Japan has been by far Australia’s most valuable dairy export market, with total dairy exports to Japan in 2011-12 valued at $491 million. Singapore is also currently a valuable dairy export market, with $227 million worth of Australian dairy products going there in 2011-12. Indonesian opportunities In 2011-12, Australia... ...Read more »

While Greek-style yoghurt in the US will continue to set the direction for the overall yoghurt market, US market research organisation Packaged Facts does not believe the category will maintain its recent rapid rise or growth pace. As of early 2013, Packaged Facts said price competition had caused some areas of sales growth in the US Greek yoghurt segment to slow, and that major players were beginning to “fight a zero sum game over market share”. The yoghurt market in the US underwent a “sea... ...Read more »

Australian Food News recently reported that the total value of food and liquor retailing in Australia grew by 4.2 per cent in 2011-12, to $135.8 billion, according to ‘Australian Food Statistics’, a yearly report compiled by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) from data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). But the report found that a more detailed analysis of the data showed a more complex picture than what was suggested by the overall figures. Food... ...Read more »

Major Australian supermarket Coles has entered long-term supply partnerships with two Australian dairy co-operatives, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (Murray Goulburn) and Norco. Coles has signed a ten-year contract with Murray Goulburn, which is Australia’s largest dairy co-operative. The contract will see Coles private label milk supplied by Murray Goulburn’s Devondale brand in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) from July 2014. Devondale processes approximately one third of Australia’s... ...Read more »

The espresso machine and coffee giant Nestle Nespresso said it has taken inspiration from Italy’s coffee culture to create two new limited edition coffees, which will be released in April 2013. Nestle Nespresso, which is an operating unit of food manufacturing giant Nestle, said the two new ‘Limited Edition Grand Gru’ coffees are based on the distinct coffee cultures of the Italian cities of Napoli and Trieste. The two new flavours are named after the cities. The ‘Nespresso Trieste’ flavour... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest dairy co-operative, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co., will invest $19.1 million in its facilities at Leongatha in Victoria, to lift the site’s Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk manufacturing output by approximately 70 million litres a year. The investment is part of a planned $200 million investment by the company in ‘leading-edge’ dairy food manufacturing facilities for UHT milk, butter and spreads, and cheese, details of which will be announced in full by mid-2013. The... ...Read more »