The Old Colonial Cookie Company has announced that Butterfingers Shortbread and its gourmet variety, Lander’s Australian Bites, have both now received Halal and Kosher certification, as a range of Australian food manufacturers and retailers begin to update their products to ensure they can appeal to a wider market. The Old Colonial Cookie Company is now also producing gluten free shortbread in response to growing demand for wheat-free products, with the Butterfingers Pure Butter Gluten Free... ...Read more »

The Barossa is setting the Australian benchmark for food and wine tourism, according to a new report by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre. Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith notes that the report highlights the heightened interest in food and wine tourism and outlines the potential for further growth. “The report also identifies an increasing demand among consumers for food and wine tourism experiences,” she said. “The Food and Wine Tourism in Australia report shows... ...Read more »

New Zealand can no longer rely on being the lowest cost producer, with its food industry needing to raise its game to adapt to the changing economic climate of the global industry, according to Professor of Food Marketing Dr David Hughes from the Imperial College London. His advice, while primarily directed toward the New Zealand food industry, is also relevant to Australian producers and manufacturers. Quality products, not fancy packaging Consumers, despite more difficult economic conditions, are... ...Read more »

Fuel is just one factor in the commodity boom that is expected to continue due to income and population growth, freer trade and globalization, and resource scarcity, according to a Rabobank report, “The Boom Beyond Commodities.” Food prices are anticipated to remain high and there will be substantial growth prospects for some sectors of the food industry. “While biofuels will be responsible for a significant share of added demand for commodities in the coming years, food will remain... ...Read more »

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has appointed a former journalist to the position of London “food champion”. Rosie Boycott, former editor of the Independent on Sunday and the owner of a small organic farm, is to take on the position as Chair of London Food, with the task to improve Londoners’ access to healthy, locally produced and affordable food. Boris Johnson was excited about the appointment, believing quality local produce needs to brought to a more diverse range of Londoners.... ...Read more »

The Snickers chocolate bar is about to be updated to deal with growing consumer demand for caffeine and energy products. Mars incorporated have recently come up with the Snickers Charged - a chocolate bar with taurine, B vitamins and caffeine levels equivalent to a weak cup of coffee. Consider it as a merger of Snickers and Red Bull. Mars have only released it as a limited edition for the time being and sales results in America of the bar during the month of March will determine if it will be released... ...Read more »

A global food shortage is a possibility in the near future as increasing populations increase demand, while severe weather conditions in many major producing countries limit supply. Food prices are soaring as a result and it is no surprise to see wheat stocks at 30-year lows. The issue for the future is that as the population continues to increase land will become scarcer yet demand for food will increase. Thus, the ability to find suitable land for agricultural purposes will decline and the crisis... ...Read more »